Online Reporter
Theseus Shambare
THE Presidential Poultry Pass-On Scheme is playing a pivotal role in boosting rural nutrition and household food security in Goromonzi, with beneficiaries now passing on indigenous chicks to new groups of farmers.
During the recent pass-on exercise in Ward 16 (Chinyika), Goromonzi Rural District chairman Cllr Dr Aaron Golden Shamu lauded the initiative, describing it as a model of community empowerment and collaboration.
“I thank the President for such a programme, which is being implemented by the Minister of Agriculture, Agriculture 8.2. In this ward, we gave village heads 100 chicks each,” he said.
“They created committees, and after six months, these committees were able to share the chicks they were producing. Today (Wednesday), they are passing on another 100 chicks to the next group.”
Cllr Shamu highlighted that the scheme fosters teamwork and community responsibility.
“It is very effective in the sense that they are contributing money for feed, vaccines, and medications. When they start hatching, we help them just with the hatching process, and then they share the chicks. This approach promotes group work and collective responsibility. We are very thankful to the Republic for such a programme,” he said.
The initiative also emphasises nutrition and economic empowerment, particularly for vulnerable groups such as women, pensioners and people living with disabilities.
Zimbabwe Free Range Poultry Association (ZFRPA) is supporting the programme through free hatchery services, which have helped beneficiaries scale up their flocks and participate in the pass-on model.
“We offered them free hatchery services and they were consistent. Now that many are empowered, we are weaning them while onboarding new farmers,” said ZFRPA chief executive officer Mrs Beauty Jiji.
He said the programme has created opportunities for rural households to supplement incomes while improving access to protein-rich diets.
The Presidential Poultry Pass-On Scheme is part of broader Rural Development 8.0 programming, designed to address food security challenges, enhance livelihoods and promote self-sustaining community projects across Zimbabwe.
By enabling rural households to multiply and pass on indigenous chicks, the programme ensures continuity, creating a self-sustaining cycle of food production and economic activity.
Beneficiaries not only access eggs and meat for household consumption but also generate income through sales, contributing to broader rural development objectives.
With the ongoing support of the Government and development partners, the pass-on scheme is emerging as a key strategy in strengthening rural nutrition security and empowering communities across Zimbabwe.
