Two community income generation poultry in the Eastern and Northern Provinces. The project seeks to achieve the double bottom line of addressing the social and economic needs of selected communities using a sustainable agribusiness model that will create and accelerate employment and income generation for youths and women while utilisutilising the complete value chain approach to ensure the business generates sufficient returns on investment.
Poultry farming has not been widely promoted in Sierra Leone. The problem is worsened as 70% of eggs and chicken consumed in S/L are imported as the poultry business cannot afford to produce enough to meet the huge demand for eggs and chicken. It is also true that imported eggs and chicken are sometimes chemically manufactured and lack required nutrients. About 80% of the S/L population live in rural areas and are confronted with social and economic problems including lack of access to nutrition
The project aims to increase the economic livelihoods for communities through their involvement in every aspect of the project. 25% of the annual profit shall be shared with project communities. The project will also impact health and nutrition status of under-fives, pregnant women and lactating mothers in communities by providing access to affordable eggs and poultry products. A social business, it will also stregthen rural farmers to improve agricultural productivity and livelihood.
It is expected that maize production will increase alongside the project used as chicken feed. Excesses from these production will be sold to other businesses and use for food. The chicken waste provides an important source of organic manure which will be used by farmers to increase crop production.New businesses will also be created for both community members and SMT's existing microfinance customers as some will be engaged as distributors and retailers for poultry products.
