Building Independence Through Poultry Farming in Trincomalee

A livelihood support project was successfully completed for S. Sothilatchchumi, a women headed household living in Eachchantheevu, Kinniya, Trincomalee District. Through the initiative, poultry and poultry feed were provided to strengthen her existing livelihood activities and create a more sustainable source of income for her family.

Sothilatchchumi lives with her children and has faced significant economic challenges while caring for her family. Her household had limited and irregular sources of income, making it difficult to consistently meet expenses related to food, healthcare and everyday needs. Despite these circumstances, she had previous experience in poultry rearing and had once managed a small egg layer operation, which she was unable to continue due to insufficient capital and resources.

Building on Existing Skills and Experience

Rather than introducing an unfamiliar livelihood, the project built upon Sothilatchchumi’s existing knowledge of poultry farming. Her previous experience provided a strong foundation for developing a home based income generating activity that could be managed alongside her family responsibilities.

The household also had an existing poultry shed that could support the livelihood with necessary improvements. These factors made backyard poultry farming a practical opportunity to strengthen the family’s economic resilience while allowing Sothilatchchumi to use skills she had already developed.

Strengthening a Sustainable Source of Income

Through the completed project, poultry and poultry feed were provided to help expand Sothilatchchumi’s livelihood and improve the family’s income generating capacity. The original project plan identified egg production as a potential source of regular household income and a pathway towards greater financial stability. 

Following the assistance, Sothilatchchumi shared that the support had helped her expand her poultry based livelihood and increase her household income. The initiative therefore provided more than immediate assistance by strengthening an activity capable of continuing to generate benefits for the family over time.

Supporting a Family Facing Additional Challenges

The project was particularly important because of the responsibilities and financial pressures experienced within the household. One of Sothilatchchumi’s sons is a person with a disability who requires continuous care and supervision, while another works as a daily labourer with an irregular income. These circumstances had placed additional pressure on the family’s already limited financial resources. 

A home based livelihood offered Sothilatchchumi an opportunity to generate income while remaining available to care for her family. The project was therefore designed to contribute to women’s economic empowerment, disability inclusive livelihoods and greater household resilience.

Creating Greater Stability for the Future

By strengthening an existing livelihood rather than providing only short term assistance, the project created an opportunity for the family to work towards greater independence and improved living conditions. Income generated through poultry farming can contribute towards everyday household expenses while reducing reliance on limited external assistance.

The project’s broader objective was to improve the economic resilience and quality of life of a vulnerable women headed household through sustainable backyard poultry farming. With previous experience, existing infrastructure and the motivation to continue developing the livelihood, Sothilatchchumi was well positioned to build upon the assistance provided. 

Empowering a Family Through Sustainable Livelihood Support

This meaningful initiative was generously funded by Gajen Santhirasegaran.

Sothilatchchumi expressed her sincere appreciation for the assistance and the opportunity it provided to strengthen her poultry farming activities. Through sustainable livelihood initiatives such as this, families facing economic hardship can gain the resources needed to build greater independence, stability and hope for the future.

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