In the bustling heart of Bulawayo, a quiet agricultural revolution is taking flight. At the center of it all is Hamara Farmer, a local business breathing new life into Zimbabwe’s poultry sector — long after the donor funding ran dry.
What began as part of the African Poultry Multiplication Initiative (APMI) has grown into something far more powerful: a self-sustaining model of rural empowerment, nutrition security, and economic growth. And Hamara is leading the charge, proving that purpose-driven business can pick up where donor projects leave off.
Beyond Aid: Building a Legacy of Livelihoods
The APMI was launched to equip smallholder farmers with improved poultry breeds, training, and access to markets. But when the initiative’s initial funding phase ended, many expected the gains would stall.
Hamara had other ideas.
Led by visionaries Brendon and Peter, Hamara saw more than a development project — they saw a blueprint for long-term, inclusive growth. Instead of winding down, they wove APMI’s principles into their business strategy, turning a donor-funded model into a thriving private-sector engine.
The Power of a Chicken: Better Birds, Better Futures
At the heart of the initiative is a deceptively simple idea: give small-scale farmers access to dual-purpose chickens—birds bred for both meat and egg production. These high-yielding breeds offer better returns and food security than traditional, low-output village chickens.
Hamara continues to distribute these birds nationwide, enabling farmers to diversify their incomes and feed their families more reliably.
Knowledge That Lasts
But it’s not just about the birds. Hamara’s support teams work hand-in-hand with farmers, offering training in biosecurity, feeding, housing, and disease prevention. The goal? Build independence, not dependency.
This focus on farmer capacity-building means knowledge is passed on like seed — growing stronger with each season, each flock, and each community.
Closing the Loop: From Farm to Market
Access to markets remains a major hurdle for many rural farmers. Hamara’s answer? Create a connected poultry value chain where producers, buyers, and consumers all benefit.
By linking farmers with reliable buyers, Hamara helps ensure that poultry farming is not just productive — it’s profitable. This market access closes the loop, turning isolated farmers into active participants in a thriving national supply chain.
A Model for the Continent
What’s happening in Zimbabwe is about more than eggs and meat — it’s about transformation. Hamara has shown that the private sector can carry the torch of sustainable development, long after aid programs wrap up.
In regions often plagued by economic uncertainty and underinvestment, the success of APMI and Hamara’s stewardship offers a playbook for other African nations. It proves that with the right mix of local ownership, smart strategy, and business vision, donor-funded initiatives can evolve into long-lasting engines of prosperity.
As Hamara Farmer continues to champion this movement, it stands as a beacon of what’s possible when profit meets purpose, and when community-driven change takes root — one chicken at a time.
