Tanzania Fund

LATEST: Read about how the chicken project is helping Yela Magembe in Old Maswa and Catherine Elias in Bukigi village.

Jimotoli Magida and his wife Ellen live in Isanga cillage in Maswa district. They have three children one boy and two girls and make a living by farming and carpentry.

His usual crop of cotton has recently been unstable and he was therefore keen to hear about the chicken project. The demand for them locally has kept rising. He joined the producer group in Isanga village and has recieved training on both chicken husbandry and also the Savings and Internal Lending Communities for which he works as a money counter.

He started with 29 chickens and now has 83 after selling 34 chickens at Tshs 170,000 (£83). He also has 136 chicks to rear. The chickens and eggs provide a good nurtition for his family and he has expanded his chicken house to cope!

Mr and Mrs Dues Jackson live in Zanzui village, Maswa. They currently have a flock of 33 chickens. He says recently many people have been coming to the village to buy chickens and so he has realised their potential.

His wife Esther takes care of the chickens and the eggs. Normally men take care of larger more profitable animals. The chickens have given Esther the independence to buy her own cooking oil, salt and other essential cooking supplies without having to rely on her husband.

Both are members of the SILC group where they are saving and taking a loan to improve their chicken house.

Dr Gamitwe is the contact person for Maswa District. He had this to say:

"We comend Oxfam for their complementary effort and as a district we will co-operate to make sure that the project succeeds. In Maswa district the government has decided to provide new motorcycles to the WALEOs and want Oxfam only to provide fuel and maintenance of the motorcycles."