Mozambican farmer Celestino Manquante had long struggled to support his family of 10. Growing crops such as peanuts and corn rarely yielded enough income to buy the most basic necessities. That all changed three years ago when Manquante got involved with TechnoServe’s poultry program. “My involvement with TechnoServe has been a gift from God,” he says.

In the past, Mozambicans mainly purchased imported poultry. Though TechnoServe research showed that consumers preferred fresher domestic chicken, the majority purchased imported chicken because, having exceeded its “sell-by date,” it was being “dumped” into the market at rock-bottom prices.

TechnoServe concluded that with the right policies and technical support, including integrating best practices in biosecurity and food safety, a revitalized Mozambican poultry industry could thrive, creating jobs, increasing local farmer incomes and providing consumers a safer food supply.

With support from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Agency for International Development/Mozambique, TechnoServe launched a three-year industry development program to strengthen the sector, and in doing so, is helping 1,000 farmers like Manquante to increase their incomes by $500 a year (average annual income in rural areas is approximately $120). This program is helping grow the feed grain industry from $15 million a year in 2004 to a projected $65 million a year in 2009, creating expanded markets for tens of thousands of small-scale producers.

In 2005, TechnoServe partnered with Cargill, Inc. to address immediate concerns regarding avian influenza. With local stakeholders, they developed a culling plan and a small-scale farmer compensation plan to implement in the event of a disease outbreak. The plan was approved by the Mozambican government, which earmarked an initial $10 million to implement the plan in the event of an outbreak.

With additional support from Cargill, the University of Minnesota, and the Safe Supply of Affordable Food Everywhere, TechnoServe went on to assess the national veterinary public health services. The findings led to the development of a community animal health program model, which incorporates community vaccination programs, education and surveillance - improving animal health while contributing to a safer food supply.

TechnoServe supported the National Poultry Association’s efforts to work with the government to introduce regulations requiring all poultry products be imported within 90 days of slaughter. This has largely eliminated the “dumping” of imported poultry, creating a more level playing field for domestic producers. Domestic production now accounts for 50 percent of overall consumption, up from 30 percent in 2005.

TechnoServe also assisted in developing and running a highly successful national marketing campaign championing domestic chicken. It featured a series of print, television and radio ads (including a cartoon ad featuring a “sexy” Mozambican hen strutting through a roost of admiring male chickens) that ran in eight cities. As a result, brand recognition is high.

Watch the other ad by clicking here.

To strengthen opportunities for small-scale farmers to benefit from the sector’s revitalization, TechnoServe developed a program linking poultry farmers such as Manquante with large feed mills and hatcheries. The program offers farmers access to a credit system, allowing them to receive chicks, feed and vaccinations up front. The costs are deducted from their income when they sell full-grown chickens.

One company that is participating in this program is Novos Horizontes (“New Horizons”). In 2007, Novos Horizontes provided more than 200 local farmers with the technical advice and training to raise chickens profitably.

Novos Horizontes also included training for the families in ways to manage their newly increased incomes. Manquante and his wife decided to use their additional income to register all their school-age children for school for the first time. They’ve also made home improvements and invested in a bicycle, to avoid long treks on foot to the nearest city for supplies.