By: Anne Zaczek, U.S. Grains Council Manager of Global Development Programs

Training programs that are part of the U.S. Grains Council’s (USGC’s) Food for Progress program in Tanzania have resulted in several success stories, with two poultry producers, Eugene Kavishe and Costa Mrema, implementing management changes based on these courses to benefit their operations.

Kavishe of Vonkavy Agro Co. Ltd. has grown his operation from 300 birds in August 2014 to 8,500 layers in April 2016. This is the result of his attendance at five USGC training programs in Tanzania and his participation in a USGC-funded layer training program on Ukhebe farm in South Africa in March 2016.

Following these sessions, Kavishe started to use the model of poultry production that Ukhebe farm uses back on his operation in Tanzania. He built two houses that each have a capacity of 4,500 birds, which contain cages. Caged poultry production is rare in Tanzania, but Kavishe’s birds are already benefitting from it as they are healthier than before.

In addition, Kavishe has started discussions with USGC Consultant Bonaventura Ishengoma on how to improve his feed formulations as he grinds his own feed rations onsite.

Mrema is a broiler farmer located in Dar es Salaam who is also applying improved production techniques as a result of attending USGC-sponsored training. He participated in a weeklong program during which he learned broiler production management, business skills and more through both classroom and practical training.

Upon return from training, Mrema purchased a gas brooder and his own weighing scale, which was recommended during his training on brooding management for broilers. This has allowed him to raise healthier birds and expand his operation.

The Tanzania Food for Progress program’s goals also include developing self-sufficient industry associations for poultry producers and feed manufacturers and improving feed quality through the development of a fully functional grain testing lab. These goals have also seen success with the Poultry Association of Tanzania (PAT) hosting the Tanzania Poultry Show last December and the laboratory’s staff becoming fully trained on how to use new and up-to-date grain testing equipment.

Collectively, these activities will help local feed producers and farmers provide higher-quality products to consumers and, over the long term, build demand for coarse grains used as feed.

Click here to read past Global Update articles about Tanzania.