Chickens Breed Success
Cristovão Pedro has been raising chicks from a henhouse behind her home for nearly six years now. The funds from this loan were extremely important as they allowed Isabel to buy 200 more chicks. In addition, she bought the two types of food necessary for their healthy growth and vitamins that she distributes through their water supply.
After 36 days of caring for them, Isabel reports that she sold all 200 of the chickens to the local community who benefit from this locally accessible source of meat protein eliminating the need to travel to the main capital city to buy. Isabel sold her chickens at the going rate of 70 meticais each (roughly US$2.60) when sold in bulk to resellers and 75 meticais (about US$2.78) for individual purchases.
With profits made, she bought 350 more chicks and she will sell those off in a few weeks when they reach maturity. The remaining profit is used to manage the household costs for her and her two children ages five and 14 years old, as well as her 10 year old nephew who she cares for since the death of her brother this year.
Isabel enjoys this line of work because it allows her to raise and sell the chickens from the home while also caring for the children and the household. The only challenge for the business that Marta reports is the transportation costs to and from the capital city of Maputo (30km away) to buy the chicks.
Three months ago, Isabel began tending a field she owns outside of town where she employs one person to help grow beans, pepper, carrots and eggplant. She sells directly to a few loyal resellers from the field since she does not have a car to carry the goods to the main market.
Isabel’s plans for the future are to build a henhouse on the land outside of town and buy and raise egg-laying hens in addition to chickens. There, she can do two jobs at once. Egg-laying hens are more expensive, but worth the investment over time as they lay one egg per day for over two years time.
This loan was funded by the good people at Kiva.
