Effect of sustainable poultry interventions on household food security and resilience in game management areas of Zambia's Luangwa Valley: a before-and-after study

Abstract

Background Zambia's Luangwa Valley epitomises the linked environmental, agricultural, and human health problems around protected wildlife areas in developing countries. Smallholder crop yields are usually poor, and farmers turn to the unsustainable harvesting of natural resources, including hunting, fishing, and deforestation for charcoal production to supplement household income and food supply. Chronic poverty and food insecurity are pervasive and long-term household and environmental resilience are uncertain. Village poultry can ameliorate these problems, through the provision of animal-source food and income and an alternative to consumption of natural resources. However, the returns on traditional backyard poultry ownership are reduced by high flock losses and poor flock genetics. We, therefore, designed and implemented two poultry interventions and measured their effect on productivity, profitability, and consumption of animal-source food.Methods We implemented two programmes in the Luangwa Valley, Zambia. First, we undertook a community vaccination programme for Newcastle disease virus (NDV) in village chickens in Mambwe and Lundazi districts and gave flock owners instruction in improved management practices through workshops. We recorded changes in flock size over 4 years, using surveys administered every 4 months, and we used other primary and secondary data sources to assess changes in poultry-related income and chicken and egg consumption. For the second programme, we facilitated construction of semi-intensive egg production facilities in 24 communities. Layer-hen facilities each held 40 hens and were owned and operated by a group of 4-5 people. We recorded data on egg productivity (the number of eggs produced on a day divided by the number of hens in the flock on that day), poultry-related income, and egg consumption for 1 year using facility records, a semiannual survey, and qualitative interviews.Findings In areas covered by the NDV vaccine programme, mean household flock size increased from 10•9 birds in July, 2007, to 25•7 birds in November, 2011 (p<0•0001). Mean annual income from poultry increased 138%, from US$ 16•89 to US$ 40•25, annually. Chicken and egg consumption was unchanged over the study period, reflecting farmers' preference to sell birds. Where new semi-intensive egg production facilities were introduced, mean egg productivity was 62•5% during the first 9 months between September, 2015, and May, 2016, and mean group net income was US$30•28 per month. Some groups used this income to invest in other businesses, together or individually, while others used it during the so-called hungry season to buy maize for their own households. Although most eggs were sold, weekly egg consumption increased 118% in producer households (from 3•3 to 7•2 eggs per week), including 167% in women (from 0•9 to 2•4 eggs per week) and 263% in young children ages 6 to 36 months (from 0•8 to 2•9 eggs per week).Interpretation NDV vaccination and improved management sustainably increased flock sizes and improved h...

Promotion of Egg and Eggshell Powder Consumption on the Nutritional Status of Young Children in Ethiopia

“…Eggs are relatively cheap ASFs and can be made easily available through homestead poultry. Studies of small-scale poultry integrated with nutrition education, however, have not consistently found increased consumption of eggs by infants and young children [6,7]. In these studies, caregivers gave priority to sell the eggs and birds, to invest more on their poultry enterprise, rather than feeding eggs to the children.…”

Strategies for promoting sustainable use and conservation of indigenous chicken breeds in Sub-Saharan Africa: Lessons from low-income countries

“…In Tanzania, the SSF consumed less than half of the chickens they produced and sold the rest to rural areas, whereas in Zambia, the rural families consumed more than half of IC and only sold 20% to urban areas (Queenan et al 2016). Further, communities assisted with sustainable interventions to improve productivity exhibited changes in consumption patterns for chicken meat and eggs (Dumas et al 2017).…”

“…These chickens significantly contribute to household incomes and livelihood assets for rural communities in the region. Farmers acquire finances to meet their daily needs and possible future investments (Dumas et al 2017;Guèye 2000). For example, when family A raised US$180 from selling 30 chickens, they allocated US$72 for daily household needs, US$54 for buying clothes, US$36 for business and US$18 for purchasing replacement stock (Guèye 2000).…”

“…For example, when family A raised US$180 from selling 30 chickens, they allocated US$72 for daily household needs, US$54 for buying clothes, US$36 for business and US$18 for purchasing replacement stock (Guèye 2000). Some farmers invest their incomes and purchase food sources in times of hunger (Dumas et al 2017). The meticulous allocation of revenues from IC highlights how valuable the chickens are for rural livelihoods.…”

“…Any further responses from the reviewers can be found at the end of the article identifying challenges and exploring opportunities have resulted in increased adoption, enhanced adaptation and socioeconomic gains among rural communities (Dumas et al 2017;Mueller et al 2015;Rodríguez et al 2011).…”