Location:
Mtwara and Dar es Salaam 

Background
For members of the smaller communities in Tanzania, it is often quite difficult to support its leaders. The means to generate an income are also scarce. These community leaders often have need for a little extra income for their families, but not at the expense of their community work. A quantity of 250 chickens can mean a substantial contribution to their income. The consumption of eggs also has a positive influence on the nutritional standard of the family. The work associated with egg production can easily be combined with other chores and responsibilities that can be delegated.

• To provide substantial income improvement for community leaders in small communities.
  
• Improve nutritional standards of the families.
  

After two years of keeping the first chickens it has been decided not to take on anymore new laying hens.  The management of the chickens is not adequate enough to fight illnesses or deal with accommodation and feeding, which leads to too many deaths among the chickens.  Incomes were much lower than expected due to the high number of deaths. Luckily, direct costs could be paid, and the families received a small supplement on top of their income at the cost of the investment.  Early 2005, it was decided that the project would no longer continue.  This means that no new chicks were purchased. The ministers were able to generate so much additional income with the chickens, that they could devote more time to their communities. The market for good quality eggs was also quite strong, so restaurants and hotels eagerly purchased them for a good price.