YADLIT's Poultry Project: Empowering Youths and Promoting Food Security in Toledo
The Youth Association Developing Livelihood In Toledo (YADLIT) is spearheading a transformative initiative aimed at promoting food security, economic empowerment, and sustainable agriculture in Belize’s Toledo District. Through the Empowering Youths Promoting Food Security and Sovereignty project, YADLIT is working to establish a community-based youth cooperative focused on poultry farming. This initiative is designed to integrate youth, women, and indigenous communities into a localized poultry supply chain, fostering economic opportunities and self-sufficiency.
Project Overview
Recognizing the challenges posed by food insecurity and rising poultry prices due to inflation, YADLIT is mobilizing youth farmers (including women and indigenous participants) to engage in chicken farming. These farmers will form a cooperative, supplying locally grown poultry to the Punta Gorda area and surrounding villages.
By decentralizing poultry production, YADLIT aims to reduce food miles, lower carbon emissions, and promote eco-friendly farming practices. The project aligns with Belize’s National Agricultural Policy, particularly its focus on food security, rural livelihood enhancement, and increased youth and women participation in agriculture.
Key Objectives
- Train farmers in poultry farming best practices.
- Establish a sustainable poultry supply chain in the Toledo District.
- Ensure participation of women and indigenous representation in the project.
- Develop marketing strategies to promote the sale of poultry products in local markets.
- Improve income generation opportunities for participants by tracking revenue growth and customer retention.
Implementation Plan
The project follows a structured implementation strategy to ensure long-term sustainability and impact:
- Youth Engagement & Recruitment
- Social media outreach and farm visits to recruit committed youth farmers.
- Community meetings to discuss the benefits of cooperative farming.
- Training & Capacity Building
- Collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture to conduct a poultry farming workshop.
- Development of a best-practice manual for farmers.
3. Farm Development & Infrastructure
- Construction of chicken coops and procurement of necessary tools and equipment.
- Distribution of chicks, feed, and supplies to participating farmers.
4. Marketing & Sales
- Integration of poultry products into YADLIT’s existing marketing system.
- Establishment of partnerships with local restaurants and markets for bulk sales.
5. Sustainability & Impact Measurement
- Continuous monitoring of production and sales.
- Bi-annual farmer meetings for feedback and project expansion discussions.
Sustainability & Long-term Impact
To ensure sustainability, YADLIT is implementing a forward contracting model, where farmers receive payments upfront for their poultry, ensuring steady income. The organization is also exploring bulk purchasing of feed and supplies to reduce costs and enhance profitability. Additionally, knowledge-sharing activities, including video documentaries and written reports, will support future scalability and encourage more young farmers to participate.
Community Participation & Inclusion
YADLIT has conducted grassroots engagements, ensuring community buy-in and participation in the project. Local youth have expressed a strong interest in poultry farming, and the initiative is seen as a stepping stone to broader economic empowerment in Toledo.
Through this project, YADLIT is not only creating employment and food security opportunities but also fostering a community-led approach to sustainable agriculture. By empowering youth, women, and indigenous farmers, the initiative is helping to reshape Toledo’s agricultural landscape for the better.
Project Donor and Partners:
