Petronella Johansi's story

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Petronella Johansi of Gutu district is one of the first beneficiaries of the egg production business pioneered by Help from Germany (Help) in 2012.

As the project holder, Johansi always thought working alone was ideal as she could manage everything on her own and ensure business growth. But then she realised that all her thoughts were only but a myth.

“I worked alone from the start of the project,” said Johansi. “I fed the birds, changed the bedding and cleaned the fowl run alone. I was afraid that these children will steal my eggs and sell or cook, but I realised that it was too much work for one individual.Then at a workshop with Help from Germany we were introduced to the Farming as a family Business model,” added Johansi.

Farming as a family business is a model that Help is using to encourage people to work as families to ensure accountability and sustainability of the project.

The Johansi family expressed a lot of excitement when they started working together as it strengthened relations and brought about a new source of income.

TapiwaJohansi, Petronella’s son, said, “We work together as a family and am the overall supervisor in this business as I am now always home. I also use my knowledge from school to do the records as my mother is now old.”

He added that this is a good project as it has the capacity of bettering their lives and enabling good returns all year round.

He advised new farmers who wanted to start the project to make use of the maize from their gardens when feeding the birds to ensure productivity since the crushes they buy from grinding mills lack proteins and are at times mixed with dirt.