DEVNET/TIPS Zimbabwe on a drive to improve livelihoods in rural communities

Zimbabwe, November 2013 - In an effort to promote livelihoods in the rural communities especially pertaining to women, TIPS Zimbabwe has started on a training drive in rural communities on Effective Poultry Production.

This is being done through the development of functional co-operatives. For members to embrace the concept of communal projects, training is initially focussed on how co-operatives function. A guiding constitution is formulated, to set the rules and regulations. Management committee and supervisory committees are also set to be the leading agents in the implementation of the cooperatives.

Between 21-24 October, TIPS team visited a community in rural Mutare to help start up a community poultry project through a co-operative. The community currently is riddled by high unemployment and lack of alternative sources of income. In the training, there were one hundred participants, representing every household within the community and 60% of them being women. Training was provided on the creation of a functional cooperative and broiler skills training. Lessons were also imparted on running the poultry project as a business, including costing and marketing of produce. Through a sponsor, the community has structures which have already been set up to accommodate 10,000 chickens. After the training, implementation of the poultry project will commence. Proceeds from the sale of poultry products shall be used to roll out other communal projects.

Funding permitting, TIPS Zimbabwe hopes to duplicate these trainings countrywide so as to empower rural youth and women.