Replacing wild meat with local chicken to save the forests

Like in many other Forest Reserves, residents of Mkanga Village living adjacent to Mkingu Nature Reserve have continually depended on forests within their vicinity to satisfy their needs for wild meat as the main source of protein. T o obtain wild meat, villagers normally go into the forests for hunting small animals – preferably cane rats (known locally asNdezi). Despite being a small animal – 6-10Kg, Ndezi’s meat is much preferred due to its tenderness and delicious taste alike that of local chicken. To make the hunting job easy, hunters do not only hunt using dogs but also burn grasses to scare and easily chase Ndezi. It is the burning that results into detrimental forest fires, destroying the valuable forests and associated biodiversity, leaving the forests into patches.
To address the challenge, in 2013 EAMCEF project grant supported introduction ofimproved local chicken and brooding techniques by providing trainings to a group of25 people in each village. Of the greatest interest at the local level was the introduction of locally-made chick brooders (known locally as Vinengunengu). A startup capital of 5 chicken and a cock was handed over to each trainee. EAMCEF believed that local chicken would replace Ndezi and consequently save the forests from fire. Since then, villagers have witnessed tremendous results in the production of eggs and chicken – the use of Vinengunengu has assured raising of up to 248 chicks per chicken per year. Increased production has assured availability of protein (meat and eggs) at household and at the village levels – thereby reducing forest fire incidences.

It is the sales of chicken and eggs that has transformed the livelihood of participating villagers. Income from sales has been used to cover household needs, but most importantly covered pressing needs like school fees, health services, repair and construction of modern houses and improved toilets.

Amani Mtasiwa's Old House vs New House

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Location: Mkanga Village, Mvomero District
Surrounding Forest: Mkingu Nature Reserve

KEY DATA

Across project sites – Korogwe, Same, Mvomero Districts.

873 (535F:338M) trained on improved chicken keeping
2061 Improved chicken supplied to villagers
439 Households supplied with improved chicken
TZS. 17,420,500 Revenue generated from sales of eggs
TZS. 26,766,600 Revenue generated from sales of chicks
TZS 38,858,000 Revenue generated from sales of chicken
13,760kg of chicken manure used for home gardens

Some villagers have used income from sales of chicken and eggs to:

Install solar panels and illuminate the households, allowing pupils to earn extra study hours at home thereby improving overall performance.
Expand agricultural activities by buying more acres of land, employing casual labourers – resulting into increased production and stable food security
Buy dairy cow and ensure sufficient milk for the household and availability of manure for gardening activities

I bought a quarter-acre plot of land for 2 million shillings and a one-and-a-quarter-acre farm for 600,000 shillings, where I grow cassava, maize, and sunflower. When I blessed my marriage, I successfully contributed 1 million shillings and slaughtered 62 chicken as food for the event. Initially, I was raising local chicken, but after receiving training, I switched to raising hybrid chicken. I started with 100 chicken, and now I have 200, and I plan to build more chicken coops to expand my farming.

Paskalina Michael Abdulai

Before joining the poultry farming project, I had 50,000 shillings as capital in my local beauty business, making sales between 250,000 and 300,000 shillings. After starting poultry farming, my income increased, and I added 500,000 shillings to my beauty business, which allowed me to secure 750,000 shillings in total. . Since acquiring the incubator, I have already hatched my own eggs three times, and now my family consumes eggs three times a week, compared to once a month as before. This project has also helped me improve my chicken coop and sell roosters to neighbors. Overall, it has greatly improved my family’s life and allowed us to avoid environmentally harmful activities.

These funds were also used to purchase sand and bricks to finish my house and renovate another by installing rent and paint. Rent payments from tenants increased from 25,000 to 50,000 shillings per month.

Enerika Ludovik Lutabingwa

In 2021, I transitioned from struggling as a charcoal seller in Mkindo Village to poultry farming after joining the Mkindo Kuku Farmers group. With EAMCEF’s training, I grew my flock from 10 to 200 chicken, improving my family’s financial stability and upgrading my home with an extra room, iron roofing, and a window.

Sadick Eliringia Chao, member

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