Chicken breeding to counter poverty
The project aimed to construct a pilot poultry farm to produce 2,000 chickens, as well as providing training in poultry breeding techniques for the members of the federation.The main objective was to improve food security for the local population whilst providing them with an income-generating activity.
Two lots of 1,000 baby chickens were purchased and housed in the pilot farm constructed by federation members. Two members of the federation received on the job training over 45 days, which coincided with the growth span of the chickens. A total of 1,887 chickens reached maturity and were sold at the markets in Yaoundé and Evodoula. The process was repeated a second time. On the third attempt, 1,624 chickens died from diseases, and only 376 chickens were sold at a loss. It was decided to provide 20 members with 100 chickens each to benefit from the farm. Subsequently, the beneficiary members organised a contribution from their profits to help another member each month. This enabled the number of chicken farmers to grow rapidly.
FUGAPE (Fédération des Unions des Groupes d’Initiative Commune Agro-Pastoraux d’Evodoula) is an organisation that brings together rural farmers in the Evodoula district. It regroups women and youths who aim to run a vast program encouraging animal farming.
Type
Community DevelopmentDuration
March 2010 - March 2013Location
Evodoula region / CameroonWith whom
FUGAPE
Cameroon
Population
24 million ( 2017)
Per Capita Income
USD 1'370/year (2017)
Poverty rate *
37% (2014)
Literacy rate
71% (2016)
Human Development Index
151st out of 189 countries (2018)
Cameroon’s geographic diversity is favourable to economic and agricultural activity, with farming providing a source of livelihood to 70% of the population. Cameroon has achieved universal primary education and 62% of school-aged children attend secondary school. Lack of infrastructure and an unfavourable business climate have hindered a sustainable reduction in poverty, although rates have dropped from 40% (2007) to 37% (2016). Health expenditure has greatly improved, increasing from 0.9% (2006) to 5.1% (2016) of GDP being spent on public health. However, infant health and nutrition have worsened since 1990, especially in the north of the country. 32% of children under the age of five are malnourished.
Sources: World Food Program, UNICEF, World Bank, 2016 Human Development Report, Human Development Indices and Indicators (2018 Statistical Update)
*The percentage of the population living below the national poverty line.