australian-ambassador-visits-mamas-poultry-farm

The chickens of “Mamas Chicken Farming” enclosed in their fence at the poultry farm

Mama’s Chicken Poultry Project of the ‘Women I Toktok Tugeta’ (WITTT) on southeast Efate has received a visit from the Australian Ambassador Young Women and Girls, Christine Clarke.

WITTT is supported by ActionAid. ActionAid is an implementing partner of the Mama’s Chicken Poultry Project supporting 12 communities economically.

According to ActionAid Country Manager, Flora Vano, Mama’s Chicken Farming has sold over 1, 500 eggs since its operation and generated VT50, 000.

She said the project will benefit women around the east Efate community.

“We hope to grow this poultry farm and value add to it as we are enhancing government priorities as well through this project. We also acknowledge the efforts of the Government in terms of consultation through the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Forestry, Fisheries and Biosecurity (MALFFB) and the funding assistance,” she said.

Rita Kalmel is part of the Task Force of the WITTT community in Epau and is the woman behind the chicken’s project, as she mobilizes the communities who are part of the project and delegates work concerning the care of the poultry farm.

“In the weeks that we have been open, we have identified challenges with feeding and water but we have also identified how to overcome them to increase production she shared.

“We sell a dozen eggs for VT400 and right now the communities in the South East Efate community are the main consumers.

“The demand is high for eggs in this area and sometimes people come to get eggs but we have already sold them all,” said Kalmet.

Australian Ambassador Clarke visited the farm site and WITTT Fresh Food Market at Eton last week on surveying the work that ActionAid has done in the community.

Australia is very pleased to support women’s leadership in humanitarian action through its partnership with ActionAid and the Women I TokTok Tugeta network, she said.

“The new poultry farm project in Epau, and the fresh food market in Eton, are exciting initiatives that will generate economic benefits and build resilient livelihoods, not only for Women I Tok Tok Tugeta members, but for the whole community.”

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SOURCE: VANUATU DAILY POST