Sustainable Poultry Farming

Empowering Cambodia’s most impoverished rural villagers through training in best-practice poultry raising and social investment to give them the tools they need to launch their own small businesses for vital income to support their families.

Poultry farming contributes to several Sustainable Development Goals:

Dana Asia’s commitment to sustainability

Since 2013, Dana Asia has supported KJC Farm, an international-standard poultry farm social business in Siem Reap, Cambodia, that trains low-income villagers in global best-practice poultry farming techniques.

To scale KJC Farm’s impact, Dana Asia designed the Outgrower project, a business model which equips farmers with the resources to launch their own poultry farming sustainable small businesses in their backyards. Outgrower farmers raise flocks of up to 500 chicks over a 90-day cycle with ongoing monitoring and mentoring from the experienced KJC team. At maturity, the chickens are sold through KJC Farm to the local Siem Reap market generating a sustainable income for the family and improving food security.

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Why Poultry Farming?

Combat poverty and food insecurity at a community level by increasing the amount of disposable income in circulation within rural poor communities.

Raise income levels for the rural poor at a household level by establishing income-generating poultry small businesses.

Increase opportunities in training and self-employment opportunities for the marginalised rural poor.

Poultry Farming Impact

farmers trained in international-standard poultry raising.
small-scale poultry businesses established.
average increase in household income.

How do we do it?

Carefully-selected farmers are trained on KJC training farm in poultry farming, biosecurity, and small business management.

Unique innovations such as specially-designed sheds with a double-roof design to reduce temperatures in the shed and solar panels to produce electricity and water which can be used for the chickens and the family.

Investment capital is granted to fund the construction of the shed and purchase chicks, feed, and equipment to launch their small business.

Poultry Farming Success Stories

We have successfully tailored and implemented the poultry farming model for several impoverished Cambodians.

Do you want to make an impact through this social business model?

US$3,600

Empower the rural poor to become small business owners in poultry rearing as a sustainable way out of poverty.

Fund a Poultry Farm

Poultry Farming Model FAQ

Farmers have to complete an application process to become an outgrower farmer, and it can take time to find suitable candidates. The team assesses both the farmer and the proposed land for the shed: the farmer should have an entrepreneurial spirit and want to train in poultry farming and run their own business. The land must be suitable for the shed, no risk of flooding, not too close to another outgrower to lower biosecurity risks, and the farmer must have legal rights over the land.

Once selected, farmers then undergo training on KJC Farm at the same time as the shed is constructed on their land, which can take up to a month. As soon as the farmer has successfully completed training and the shed construction has been checked and signed off by the project team, the farmer is ready to receive their first batch of chicks!

The funding covers the farmer’s training, the shed and all equipment, the chicks, feed, medicines,  and a state-of-the-art solar panel.

Currently the sheds are built to accommodate up to 500 chicks, but if the farmer shows great aptitude and has the land available, a second shed could be built. KJC Farm is also developing an organic horticulture training program to train farmers in small-scale vegetable production. Outgrowers who want to branch into vegetable growing to increase their income potential can join this program.

One of the most important aspects of poultry farming is biosecurity. Chickens are very susceptible to disease and maintaining biosecurity is essential to ensuring there are no outbreaks. This is a topic that is thoroughly taught. Farmers are also trained in basic poultry care at all ages from chick to mature chicken, including feeding, watering, shed temperature management, shed cleaning, identifying sick chickens, etc. FInally, farmers receive training in business skills to help them manage their small business.

Many rural families in Cambodia raise chickens in their backyards to supplement household income. However, the local breeds tend to have genetic weaknesses and are highly susceptible to disease. The birds are free to range with minimal biosecurity which means they will often contract disease from wild birds and die before reaching maturity. Farmers are therefore unable to make a sustainable income from the few birds they are able to sell. The outgrower model and sheds are designed in a way that makes smallholder chicken farming a viable, sustainable livelihood.

Still have questions? Reach out to us.