Source:

Text of StoryBy Tom Johnston on 9/25/2013

Tyson Foods Inc. announced today a new partnership with a Christian humanitarian group and to help small family farmers in northern Tanzania raise their own chickens as a sustainable food and income source.

The Tyson Foods Fellows program combines the Springdale, Ark.-based food producer’s technical knowledge about chicken production with World Vision's “Secure the Future Tanzania” initiative to help small-holder farmers build more sustainable livelihoods.

As part of their participation in the Clinton Global Initiative Annual Meeting, Tyson Foods and World Vision outlined plans to educate thousands of farmers in the Babati region of Tanzania about best agricultural practices. According to the latest World Food Programme research, more than 40 percent of the Tanzanian population lives with chronic food deficits and many are children.

Tyson Foods will send selected employees to Tanzania to teach local farmers how to raise chickens sustainably for food and income. Teachings will include best breed selection, keeping water clean, best feed choices, housing and disease management as well as processing, transportation and marketing.

World Vision estimates that the project will help educate 2,700 farmers about sustainable chicken production and directly benefit the lives of more than 10,000 Tanzanians. By continuing to share best practices with other Secure the Future participants, World Vision will extend this education to 6,000 additional households, indirectly impacting over 24,000 individuals.

For more stories, go to www.meatingplace.com.