ABOUT 225 000 rural households will this year receive a share of more than 2,5 million free range chicks from Government under a programme that is meant to help foster rural household economic and nutritional resilience.

The chicks will be distributed under the expanded Presidential Input Support Scheme as part of the implementation of the Livestock Recovery and Growth Plan.

In an interview, Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, and Rural Resettlement secretary Dr John Basera said each household was expected to receive 10 chicks.

“Under the Livestock Recovery and Growth Plan, we are going to launch a free range chicken programme under the Presidential Input banner,” said Dr Basera.

“We are targeting about 225 000 households initially this year.

“Each household will be supported with feed and 10 chicks, which are between 4-5 weeks old. They will also be well vaccinated with all the necessary doses.

“It is going to be a pass on scheme.

“So after each cycle of weaning, each household will pass on 10 chicks to the next household; so it is a pass on scheme.

“And we think it will be viral as we try to improve household income and household nutrition.”

Dr Basera said Government plans to establish integrated farming hubs in over 35 000 villages countrywide.

He said the hubs will be established around village nutrition gardens.

“We are going to drill boreholes in each and every one of the 35 000 to 36 000 villages; we are going to drill one borehole per each village.

“Agricultural activity will then be centred around that borehole, and by the way it will be a solar powered borehole.

“At that water source, we are going to be establishing village nutrition and income gardens, fish ponds, dip tanks and fowlruns for free range chickens.

“This place will then become an integrated farming hub.

“At least 50 households will benefit from that particular scheme per village.”