Zimbabwe's rural chicken sector is worth around $46.64 million according to government agricultural planning documents, and Manicaland Province leads the country with roughly 3.6 million birds, while Midlands comes second with about 3 million. The bird count dropped 15 percent because farmers had to slaughter stock during the El Niño drought, bringing total numbers down from 21.4 million to 18.1 million.
Officials are pushing the Presidential Poultry Scheme to rebuild populations and turn backyard operations into actual commercial ventures, but disease control remains the biggest problem killing birds across the value chain. The ministry says these free-range chickens generate high income for smallholder farmers and anchor food security in communities that depend on them for protein and cash.
Officials are pushing the Presidential Poultry Scheme to rebuild populations and turn backyard operations into actual commercial ventures, but disease control remains the biggest problem killing birds across the value chain. The ministry says these free-range chickens generate high income for smallholder farmers and anchor food security in communities that depend on them for protein and cash.
