Thanda hatches new layer hen training programme

Thanks to the ‘coop-eration’ of local non-profit Thanda, 125 layer hens have found new homes with 25 households in rural Mtwalume. Through Thanda’s AgriHub training, these farmers learned everything they needed to know about coop building and caring for layer hens as part of the organisation’s continued commitment to household resilience and food security.

Thanda’s farming initiatives have blossomed since their start with community vegetable gardens in 2015. In the beginning, farming wasn’t a popular choice for many households, but that has changed dramatically. Production figures highlight this growth: Thanda’s programmes generated R26 000 in food value in the first year, but by year nine, this amount had grown to R6.6 million, totalling R31 million in food value over nine years.

The households were carefully chosen to receive hens for their role as champions in Thanda’s community-based Household Garden Programme, having already demonstrated their commitment to food security. They have agreed to take on the additional responsibility of incorporating laying hens into their household compounds and family diets, sharing their experience with others and role-modelling how poultry can contribute to a more sustainable home.

Each participating farmer had recently built a coop and was ready to welcome five hens. These hens will provide a steady source of fresh eggs to supplement the farmers’ homegrown vegetables and fruit trees, which were distributed earlier this year. Households also receive ongoing monthly visits from mentors who provide one-on-one guidance in organic farming techniques, making it possible for each family to grow their own food.

“It’s inspiring to see farming become a valued part of community life,” says Raah Msimango, Head of Programmes and Community Relations at Thanda. “From vegetables and fruit trees to fresh eggs, Mtwalume families are building resilience and a shared commitment to a more food-secure future.”

This programme benefits more than just the farmers. Children in these families, many of whom are enrolled in Thanda’s Early Learning and Child & Youth Development initiatives, also gain hands-on farming experience and enjoy fresh, nutritious food grown at home.

Now, with their coops ready and the hens settling in, farmers are eager to begin a new chapter in producing food at home. For more information on Thanda’s Household Gardens Programme or other initiatives, visit www.thanda.org.

HAVE YOUR SAY

Like the South Coast Herald’s Facebook page, follow us on Twitter and Instagram