Happy Chickens for Fiji Cyclone Disaster Hit Areas

We have trained the women and they have trained groups in two additional villages. We continue to send feed to the island as the cyclone damage has destroyed all the coconuts and other crops. This unedited report is by Simi Koto, our project officer, who is following up. Carissa the Peace Corps Volunteer has now been replaced by the new PCV Thea!  It is wonderful having the support of these young people!

I visited the villages of Nabasovi and Navaga on Koro Island from 3 – 5 October 2016. The purpose of the visit was to follow up with the two women’s groups that are over-seeing the happy chicken’s project and am happy to advise that they are doing well despite the challenges. The Happy Chicken concept is a new one as they are used to the old way of raising chickens and it will take time for them to fully understand and implement it. However, support from Peace Corp volunteer, Charisa has assisted the villagers in their efforts to re-build their lives.

A Government Agricultural officer with the support of a local hotelier assisted all eight villages in Koro through the provision of 100 layers and chicken feed. The visit was timely as he shared the reality and challenges of life the villagers experienced following the devastation of TC Winston. The focus is now to build stronger houses and provide food for their families. Natural resources have been greatly affected and in this regard, the villagers have been encouraged to rehabilitate coconut trees in collaboration with government.

Vegetation was severely affected on the eastern and northern parts of the island. These included Nacamaki, Nasau, Nakodu, Mudu and Kade. Strong winds battered these villages together with strong winds and tidal waves at the height of the cyclone. Since then, all villages have been advised to relocate to higher ground before building their new homes. Many families are still living in tents and makeshift shelter. According to local fishermen their reefs and coral have also been adversely affected by the cyclone. Debris such as roofing iron, timber, and household items from the villages has also had an impact on the reef.

I was able to meet both the women’s group on two separate occasions. At Nabasovi, work is slow to progress due to the lack of support from the men. Only a few women are taking part in managing the chickens and the project could move faster if more women supported and participated. The chicken fence needs to be enlarged as the chickens grow as they go about looking for food and return to their chicken house. On the other hand, the project at Navaga is progressing well as the women are committed and support each other well. They look after the layers and the Happy Chicken side by side. Lessons learned are that layers grow faster than the happy chickens. Support from the men and Turaga-ni-koro is good with men helping to build bigger fences for the chickens when needed. More chicken feed will be needed as Navaga relies on chicken feed from Nabasovi villgage.

What worked well:

• Project encouraged and empowered women to participate in community activities that will improve family diet and income;
• Regular support and visits from Agriculture Officer greatly assist the women managing the chickens and learn from the project is also shared.
• Bonds of unity strengthened with the two villages participating and women motivated following the meeting and consultations from the visit. At least30 layers will get them a certain number of eggs in a day and then in a week.
• This project is a good source of protein for everyone and is a healthy substitute for fish.

What can be improved/Recommendations:

• Women to discuss project updates at the Village Council meeting in order to gain more support from the men in the village and to get assistance for any physical work needed for the project.
• To increase use of local food for chicken feed and less processed feed.
• Support from the community to control their dogs and cats.
• Nabasovi and Navaga need to build wider a space to enable chickens to roam and feed on grass and worms.
• Seek support from Agriculture to provide feed for the chickens when needed.
• More follow up visits from C4C team to motivate and encourage women managing the Happy Chicken project.
• Facilitate a community building workshop with the two villages to improve support from the whole community.

The 9th of August, six women from devastated Koro island travelled by carrier, ferryboat, and bus to come to the Sustainable Livelihoods farm for a four day "Happy Chcken" workshop, where they were joined by six other women and three men from Moturiki Island and Tailevu, which were also horribly devastated. 

The workshop was lively and covered the production of local feeds, village appropriate housing, improved breeding, and chick raising. The Koro women returned home with ten dozen three-week old village adapted chcks, ten ducklings, and enough chicken feed for two months, plus materials for the production of two mobile rearing pens and a larger roosting and laying house.    

Due to the severe damage on the island of Koro, and the fact that there are no coconuts yet on the surviving trees, we are committed to sending chicken feed for the first year, although the chickens will be free-range and will obtain an estimated 50% of their daily needs by foraging alone.  We will need to continue to raise funds in support of the project, and for expanding to neighboring villages. 

The Moturiki trainees, from four vllages, received materials for building five moble rearing pens, and we are presenty raising up twenty dozen chicks to the three-week stage, before transporting them to the commmunities.  The adult chicken houses on both Koro and Moturiki will be built from the abundant damaged materials that were formerly homes, with C4C providng strong posts, nails, and undamaged iron for a leak-proof roof, using recycled materials for the walls.  

We will be travelling to Koro and Moturiki in the coming weeks to follow up and to bring whatever materials are missing.  Photos will be posted on the Happy Chicken Project Facebook page.  

This was the first time that the women had left their communities since the terrifying storm in February, and it appears to have been a healing and very encouraging experience for them.

Thank you again for helping make this possible.

With gratitude,