What started as a backyard poultry project in Aussenkehr Grape Valley farms has gradually transformed into a thriving family-run business that now supplies communities and businesses with eggs and fresh chicken.

Four years back, Gideon Nuunyango, who leads the country's grape exporting company as managing director, started rearing chickens for egg production as a side hobby.

But the rising demand, including orders from local businesses and the community, has quickly turned the small venture into a growing local supplier.

"The poultry project started in 2018, we started with just a few layers, but as of now we have 500 or 600 layers. We also have broilers and marathon chickens. We also added doves to the poultry farm. The doves are also in demand, people buy them just to eat, not to go sell or anything. But as for the broilers, they go make kapana in the location. We also improved the structure of the whole thing. We have the other coop at the end on the other side, which has increased in size because it was smaller."

Nuunyango said the family remains committed to further expanding their poultry enterprise to create more employment opportunities and to drive Namibia toward greater food self-sufficiency.

Currently, the project has created three much-needed jobs.

"The demand is very high, as some people put in orders. We also used to provide for Noordoewer Guest House, and there was a time we used to provide Norotshama. But, since now that the demand is high, we can't just give to them and not to the local people. So, we have to improvise, give them sometimes and also give to local people that are selling in the location."

Nuunyango encouraged locals to try their hand at poultry farming, describing it as a business with few challenges and a simple way to earn a living.