Pullet production and supply business development by women’s groups in selected kebeles of Dale pilot learning district (PLW): Experiences from IPMS

Shortage of pullet supply and high mortality of local chicks arising from diseases andinadequate feed were the main challenges identified through a rapid diagnostic survey on thepoultry value chain in Dale. Accordingly, women group-based commercial pullet rearing asan input for smallholder poultry production was initiated by the Office of Agriculture andRural Development (OoARD) and IPMS. To develop the program, a credit scheme wasinitiated using IPMS’s credit innovation funds. With assistance of OoARD, eighty womensubdivided into five (village) groups, collectively purchased 4000 day-old chicks (50/woman)and other inputs such as feed, vaccines, hay box brooder and watering equipment. Thewomen were trained and developed their skills through their group structures. The requiredvaccinations were also given by the women themselves under the auspices of the groupstructures. After 4–5 months, 3470 pullets survived and were kept by the women or sold toothers for egg producers. Empirical results show that: i) the group approach helped toimprove linkages, communication, and access to knowledge, technology, finance, inputs(day-old chicks and feed), veterinary service, and market; ii) the groups were able tosuccessfully produce and supply pullets thus making an additional income of Ethiopian birr(ETB) 833/hh; iii) the approach stimulates growing demand for the 5 months-old pullets,especially by government/donor financed programs. While being technically andeconomically viable, the system requires institutional upgrading so as to ensure sustainabilityof input supply (chicks, feed and vaccine/drugs). The commitment shown by WoARD toprovide technical backstopping in all aspects of poultry production also leaves much to bedesired. These are crucial at least for the first few cycles, while more emphasis should begiven to promoting improved local birds. As the follow-up studies on subsequent eggproduction showed, considerable attention needs to be paid to building the capacity of poultryfarmers to engage in semi-commercial egg production, since egg production was still farbelow its potential. The study also shows that a difference of as high as 35% existed betweenegg production level by households who had purchased the pullets privately and householdswho had received the pullets through food security funded projects in Dale area.

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