Poultry Farm
About the Project
Sustainable Poultry Farm
6° Academy for Women and Sapana Village Social Impact (SVSI) join hands to empower marginalised women from the Musahar communities in the Chitwan area. Musahar communities in Nepal are amongst the most underprivileged and disadvantaged groups who have little opportunities in social, economic and political terms. As they have been minorities from the time they were deemed ‘untouchables’, they have been trapped in a vicious circle of poverty. The Musahar mainly rely on menial jobs and fishing to feed their families. The Musahar communities in Chitwan live in slum conditions with very poor hygiene and infrastructure.
The major issues these communities face are illiteracy and poverty. We will jointly set up a sustainable poultry farm enabling the Musahar women to learn new skills and allow them to earn a small income by selling the eggs on the market, to hotels, lodges and small convenience shops in the Chitwan area. Besides the financial benefits, these women will become more self-reliant and empowered. The sustainable poultry farm will help increase female labour participation in Chitwan and improve the economic and social status of marginalised women in Chitwan.
This project is completed in september 2022. The Poultry farm does not fit with the needs of the community hence, it has been discontinued and the building repurposed.
Project Status
september 2022
During several meetings with the Musahar women we discussed the progress of the poultry farm. Many chickens have unfortunately been lost during the heavy monsoon rains. The women made it clear to us that they did not want to continue with the poultry farm. The remaining chickens have been sold and we are working together with them on a plan how to reuse the existing building.
September 2021
Finally after 5 months the chickens have laid their first eggs! This will give the Musahar women the opportunity to sell eggs on the local market besides the vegetables and fruits they are growing.
April 2021
The baby chicks have arrived! On 14 April 2021, during Nepali New Year, SVSI organised the arrival of the baby chicks with a festive opening ceremony together with the Musahar community. There are 100 baby chicks of the local breed and 100 baby chicks of the popular black Kadaknath breed.
February 2021
We raised a total of € 3,130 during our Christmas Chicken Challenge. With this money we are able to start our sustainable poultry farm in the coming weeks. This project will make the Musahar women more self-reliant and allow them to earn a small income by selling the eggs on the market. The 17 women who will be part of this initiative are members of the Sapana Madhyebarti Women Mushar Farmer Group cooperative and will run both the farming and chicken farm together.
January 2021
6° organised a Christmas Chicken Challenge! Empowering women by setting up a sustainable chicken farm – Eggs for a better future! We raised 373 chickens and a total amount of € 3,130! This will make the women more self-reliant and allow them to earn a small income by selling the eggs on the market.
DECEMBER 2020
Debbie and Gita are busy finalising the project proposal with SVSI for setting up the sustainable chicken farm. Their aim is to raise money for 250 chickens (including housing) by organising a 6° Christmas Chicken Challenge.
Objectives
The objective of the project is to develop a sustainable poultry farm that not only foresees the Musahar women with eggs to feed their families but also offers them employment and the possibility to run their own business, providing them with the necessary skills and better income-generating opportunities.
Funding
We raised a total amount of € 3,130 through our Christmas Chicken Challenge. We thank you all for the contributions.
Project Partnership
6º is partnering with Sapana Village Social Impact (SVSI) for this project. SVSI supports this project by screening and selecting the candidates and overall coordination of the project on the ground.
SVSI was chosen for their reputation within Nepal, especially in the Chitwan region, as a reliable partner, with strong references from other Dutch foundations who have worked with them in the past. Furthermore, 6º firmly believes in working with local reputable partners as they know the local market, culture and society the best.
Cover Image credit: Heifer International