The Tanzanian government is currently promoting the consumption of white meat. This is due to a growing rate of heart disease in Tanzania caused by high cholesterol that is commonly associated with eating red meats.
In light of this, The Maadili Centre spotted an opportunity for rural farmers to start farming rabbits. Not only was this a niche market which allowed for a larger profit margin, but it also was more economical in terms of space utilisation and time to breed.
The centre formed a plan to train women, youths and community farmers in the different needs that rabbits require as opposed to poultry and supplied rabbits to help start their own enterprises. So far 1,684 people are trained including 585 children which means that the project has the potential to benefit generations of rural farmers and their families.
The Maadili Centre came to us for help with the capital to implement this idea and we instantly loved the entrepreneurial and niche nature of it. We agreed to fund €5,457 towards the project to help get it up and running and although it has run into a few challenges since its inception, such as farmers not following the guidance given by the trainers and negative religious beliefs regarding rabbit meat, there are plans to take this project further in the future.
The Tanzanian government has given authority to The Maadili Centre to provide Guidance, Parental Education and Entrepreneurship Programmes 70 secondary schools in 3 districts across the country. In these programmes livestock and agricultural entrepreneurship will be promoted with a particular emphasis being put on keeping rabbits as livestock. The Maadili Centre is also promoting the project by supply more newsletters, booklets and drama in the village theatres.
Your generous donations and the hard work done by The Maadili Centre has helped provide a sustainable food supply for generations.
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