Tyson to help Tanzania

Tyson Foods Inc. announced a partnership World Vision that aims to educate thousands of small family farmers in northern Tanzania about best agricultural practices.

The joint initiative dubbed “Tyson Foods Fellows” was outlined today (Sept. 25) during the Clinton Global Initiative Annual Meeting in New York.

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

"I've been to Tanzania and know it’s a beautiful country with hard-working people, but I’ve also seen the devastating hunger there and need for agricultural improvements," said Donnie Smith, president and CEO of Tyson Foods. "Our initiative isn’t about just giving the people of Tanzania money or food, it’s about sharing our knowledge and helping them create for themselves a sustainable source of food so they can lift themselves out of the cycle of poverty. We believe it’s the best way to help give them a hunger-free world and to provide well for their children."

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.  

"Nearly 40% of the people in Tanzania don't have enough to eat and face food shortages and malnutrition. Yet, the country is full of hardworking small-holder farmers who simply need information and expertise to turn their fields into a rich harvest," said Richard Stearns, president of World Vision U.S.

The education initiative in Tanzania is not Tyson's first relief project in Africa. In 2009, the company helped people in northern Rwanda to build and operate an egg farm.