In an effort to help Africa’s small-scale poultry farmers improve their farming methods and incomes, the World Poultry Foundation (WPF) has launched a free training module to help build low-cost and effective shelters for their chickens.

The training module provides detailed information about when and how chickens need to be housed, as well as low-cost ideas for safe poultry housing, including details on how to ensure that the houses where chickens are kept are always clean and comfortable.

The materials are available with instructions in multiple languages at no cost and are presented as videos, infographics, and flip charts for use by farmers as well as training and development organisations.

Maureen Stickel, Director of International Programme Development at the WPF said the training resources are designed to help small-scale poultry producers improve their poultry rearing techniques, and thus improving the nutritional status of their families and communities.

“The launch of the series shows our commitment to supporting inclusive and sustainable poultry value chains that benefit both farmers and consumers.” said Stickel.

IOL had a chat with small-scale poultry farmer Sicelo Patience Mthethwa, who runs her business from Rietspruit about her journey and challenges as a poultry farmer.

She offered valuable insights into the needs of small-scale poultry farmers, shedding light on how this training module can make a meaningful impact.

Mthethwa talked about how having to rely on selling the existing batch of chickens to get funds to buy another batch, can be such a significant challenge and how she hopes the training module can provide small-scale farmers with guidance to accessing financial support.

She also said she had not received any formal training prior to becoming a poultry farmer and she relies on information from organisations such as FoodForMzansi and her chicken supplier, as well as Facebook and internet searches, to stay informed and find resources.

The specific topics or areas of poultry farming that she would like to see covered in training modules like this one include factors affecting egg production, optimum temperatures for chicken health and housing, as well as links to sources of funding for small-scale farmers in South Africa.

IOL