MAKONDE – In a giant move to fight poverty and unemployment, the Department of Agriculture has provided four villagers with 18 layers (egg-laying chickens) each, so that they can sell the eggs to support their families.

The villagers were each provided with four 50 kg bags of layer mash (food for the layers) and a portable cage to house the chickens. The beneficiaries, who are among the poorest in the village, were identified through close cooperation of the Makonde Civic Association and the Thulamela Municipality.

According to Mr Andries Mavhungu, an Agricultural Technician at Thohoyandou Service Centre, the project aims to eradicate poverty and empower those who do not have any source of income.

Muvhungu told Mirror: “These are the people who were receiving food parcels from the government, but it was also important for them to do something for themselves instead of relying on the government for survival. The beneficiaries are unemployed breadwinners who do not receive social grants.”

He further said that the villagers were also trained on how to handle the layers so that they may produce more eggs. “There are also routine inspections by the Agricultural Technicians to make sure that the beneficiaries are managing their businesses well. We are training them in basic small business skills and how they can market their products. If well fed, each layer can produce two eggs per day and this will be an advantage to the beneficiaries because they will have more sales. After they finish the layer mash that they have been provided with for a kick-start, the villagers are expected to buy their own mash from the sales of the eggs. Each layer has a lifespan of 12 months and after that period, we expect that they would have saved enough money to buy themselves more chickens. They are also not allowed to slaughter the chickens and they have to report to the department if their chickens are infected with any disease,” said Mavhungu.

One of the beneficiaries of the project, Mr Tshilidzi Nematavhelani (35), thanked the Department of Agriculture for coming to his rescue, as he had difficulties in supporting his family.

“I sell the eggs at 50c each and now I can at least put some food on the table. I get orders daily and I no longer rely on the government food parcels because I can now generate income through the sales of the eggs. This is a true empowerment for the poorest of the poor and I will work hard to contribute to the economic development of my country. I can now supply eggs to the neighbouring villages and the support I get from the community is overwhelming,” said Nematavhelani.