By Lizzy Carr
Catalyzing strengthened policy Action for Healthy Diets and Resilience ( CASCADE) is to empower 2710 smaller holder women farmers with noiler birds in Bauchi and Toro local government areas of Bauchi State to enhance their participation in sustainable livestock production.
Flagging of the exercise in Bauchi and the training of mother units on noiler poultry value change and integrated poultry farming practices the program manager of CASCADE Isaac Ishaya Audu said each woman who buys five birds gets extra five with a 12.5kg of poultry feed while for 10 chicks the woman gets additional 10 and a 25kg of feed.
Program officer of CASCADE Isaac Ishaya Audu said the goal is to revilatize women small holder Farmers engagement in poultry agriculture so that they can contribute to improved household nutrition and economic resilience
“CASCADE choose noiler poultry because of its resilience to climatic conditions and the ability for the birds to survive harsh conditions.”
He noted that the purpose for designing noiler poultry is also because its suitable for rural women that have limited financial capacity to be able to finance the business.
“We want to improve their income that will compliment nutrition at the household level by way if Strengthening women ownership of production and also to enhance meat and eggs consumption”.
Isaac Ishaya Audu added that CASCADE is partnering with Amo Farm Sieberer hatchery to explore opportunities around a model that drives sustainable access to poultry leveraging on Amo farms subsidiaries who breed chicks .
“We are triggering demand through Village across communities if implementation to see how they can buy into this opportunity”.
The farmers are getting 50% subsidy on cost of chicks, feeds, vaccines, drugs and other compliments that will support the business.
The program manager added that the partnership with Amo farms is also to drive market expansion for noiler products.
The project is being implemented by CASCADE, CARE Nigeria and Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) with support from the Netherlands ministry of Foreign Affairs. (Www.krestnews.com).