The Okashana Rural Development Centre at Omuthiya, under the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development, continues to empower local poultry farmers through the chicken revolving plan.

The centre strives to proactively capacitate rural communities, primarily in the Oshikoto Region and neighbouring regions.

Its poultry programme was introduced ten years ago, selling eggs and chicks to the locals through a revolving system.

Community members also take chicken eggs there for hatching at no cost and leave behind a small percentage of chicks to be raised as fully grown layers for table eggs.

Eggs are then sold to support the hospitality sector and the community.

The centre, however, is facing the challenge of costly feed, and the plan is to produce their own chicken feed and train farmers to do the same to sustain their businesses and alleviate poverty.

The centre's appropriate technology workshop is also progressing well, manufacturing different types of agronomic products for the rural community.

They manufacture electric and diesel grain milling machines, brickmaking machines, wood-efficient stoves, millet threshers and animal drinking and feeding troughs.

The Artisan Fitter and Turner at the centre says the workshop provides access to appropriate technology products and awareness of self-help income generation initiatives.

They also offer internship training to students and graduates from various vocational and tertiary institutions to sharpen their skills for the job market or create jobs.