Bill Gates to offer 100,000 chickens to families across Africa in bid to reduce poverty

MICROSOFT founder Bill Gates has launched a campaign to help extremely poor families across sub-Saharan Africa by giving them chickens which they can raise and use to generate sustainable incomes.

 

Under an ambitious plan to tackle extreme poverty, the billionaire and philanthropist has promised to donate 100,000 chickens to African families. According to the United Nations, about 41% of people in sub-Saharan Africa live in extreme poverty and Mr Gates hopes that empowering them to raise and sell poultry will ameliorate the problem.

Mr Gates said a farmer breeding five hens could earn more than $1,000 (£690) a year, raising his living standard above the poverty line of about $700 (£484). He believes that as the chicken population increases, these farmers will be able to sell their produce generating income and it will reduce Africa's dependence on imports.

 

However, experts have raised questions about the scheme, asking where is the feed to maintain the chickens will come from. They have also asked if more arable land will be provided to accommodate the poultry.

 

One international economist said: "With more chickens on the market, simple demand/supply economics suggests the average price of a chicken would fall. However, all this doesn't mean that Mr Gates' plan shouldn't be tried because of there's even a small chance of success it needs to be done."

 

In the past, the US, the European Union and Brazil have been accused of selling chickens into African markets at prices way below what local farmers can afford to sell them for. It is believed that Mr Gates' plan may at least address this and enable African economies to be self-reliant when it comes to poultry production.