Or too much rain, this season's fear. Farming is always a gamble, but at least with maize the farmers get a guaranteed price from the government cereal marketing board. Growing alternative crops such as tobacco is just too risky for poorer farmers. Prices at harvest are volatile, and in a bad year maize can always be eaten. The result is that small farmers are effectively trapped, unwilling or unable to diversify and experiment with potentially more profitable crops.
Chickens offer a way out.
Under the right conditions, a broiler chicken will mature in six to eight weeks. Cash flow is much improved and the burden of having money tied up for months is virtually eliminated. Hence solar powered lighting for their coops. In an innovative move, Freedom intends to lease solar panels from a United States company and then lend them out to local farmers along with day-old chicks and a starter pack of feed. And with no collateral or down payment, the small farmer is just thrilled.