Online Reporter
Trish Mukwazo, Sunday News Reporter
TOWNSEND High School’s chicken venture, which only started with 200-day-old road runner chicks in May last year is now thriving.
The school’s chicken venture originated from winning 200 day-old road runner chicks in May last year for subscribing to Zimpapers’ Funda Magazine.
The school’s School Development Committee bought feed for the chicks up to 18 months, where the Bulawayo girls only school sold the roosters to the community and bought feed for the hens and a few roosters to continue the project.
Under the leadership of headmistress, Mrs Thokozile Tshabalala, deputy headmistress Buitumelo Nare and Agriculture head of department Mr Admore Shumba, the school has transformed a modest project into a sustainable programme that benefits both the school and the surrounding community.
The school’s deputy headmistress, Ms Nare, said the project was progressing well.
The hens are producing an average of one crate of fertilised eggs a day, with the school sending five crates per week for hatching.
“The school is sending an average of five crates per week for hatching. From the five crates it receives between 120 to 130 chicks, translating to an 80 percent hatch rate, which is very good,” she said.
The chicks are sold to staff and the community to raise funds for the school.
Ms Nare noted that the chicks sold are day-old up to eight-weeks-old and the school also sells fertilised eggs to those who may want to do their hatching.
Some eggs are used at the boarding hostels for baking.
With the project being self-sustaining, proceeds from selling eggs and chicks are used to buy feed for the parent stock and the chicks before they are sold.
The school also runs broiler and layer projects, which are doing well.
Waste from the chicken project is used as manure for the agriculture department’s garden, which produces cabbage and carrots.
Townsend is also venturing into commercial horticulture projects using drip irrigation.
“For now, we have cabbages and carrots on a half-hectare piece of land, which is the initial phase of the project. The remaining two phases are work in progress and we hope by the end of the term, all land will have been cultivated. Besides generating income, part of the produce will be used for feeding the learners as per the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education’s expectations,” said Ms Nare.
The Head, Mrs Tshabalala, is so passionate about farming and is determined to make it a resounding success and the school expressed gratitude to Zimpapers for the win and the business opportunity it has given to the school.
These chicks are being raised using innovative and resourceful methods, including repurposed old desks and tyres that serve as feeding and brooding stations.
Plans are also underway to prepare another piece of land for tomato farming, further diversifying their agricultural efforts.
Townsend High, a girls’ school with boarding facilities, has embraced both broiler and layer production.
