Tracy Hokonya, a 38-year-old mother of three from ward 16 in Chikomba District, faced significant financial difficulties. These challenges included affording decent meals for her family and paying school fees for her children.

In March 2023, Tracy joined the Tiritose Self Help Group under the Community Upliftment Project, which provided her with technical skills and business training necessary for starting her own enterprise.

Initially, Tracy began her poultry farming venture with 25 birds. However, she quickly realized that this number was insufficient to generate a sustainable profit. However, she increased her capacity to 100 birds per batch every two weeks which significantly improved her production output. Tracy strategic decision reflected an understanding of market demand and operational scalability.

As of now, Tracy manages to sell a total of 200 birds per month. She has established market linkages with butcheries and restaurants in Chivhu town, which often purchase large quantities—sometimes up to 25 birds at a time. This ability to create strong market connections is crucial for any small business as it ensures consistent sales and revenue flow.

Each bird is sold at US$6, leading to an average net profit ranging between US$450 and US$550 per month. This income has allowed Tracy not only to meet her family’s basic needs but also to pay school fees for all her children, including one who attends boarding school. The financial stability gained from this venture illustrates the potential impact of entrepreneurship on improving quality of life. Her vision is to build another fowl run that can accommodate 500 to 1000 birds.