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A.K.M. Glitters Poultry Company from Tanzania is a good example of how youth can venture into agribusiness as a form of employment and a gateway to food security.
This emerged today in a webinar facilitated by Dr. Rachel Mkandawire, the Policy and Research Analyst from the Food Agriculture and Natural Resources Policy Analysis Network (FANRPAN) meant to promote the participation of youth in agribusiness.
Dr Mkandawire said the webinar series is meant to empower African youth by providing them with mentorship opportunities in the agribusiness sector, showcasing success stories from experienced agripreneurs, and highlighting viable value chains to encourage their active participation in the industry, ultimately fostering sustainable food systems across the continent.
Elizabeth Swai, the founder of AKM Glitters Poultry Limited from Tanzania said her company started as a backyard poultry-keeping activity as any other African household with 250 chickens.
In the early 2000s, she began purchasing day-old chicks from local farmers, fattening them, and selling them as meat. This initiative laid the foundation for what would later become a formal business. In 2007, she officially registered the company, which was subsequently recognized under national policies. Prior to launching the poultry enterprise, she worked with the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), gaining valuable experience in food systems and humanitarian support.
Today, the farm operates a modern feed mill with a production capacity of 120 metric tons per day, supplying feed to both smallholder farmers and commercial competitors. Additionally, through a licensed hatchery based in Tanzania, the company produces broiler chicks specifically adapted to local environmental conditions.
The company, AKM, is also deeply committed to empowering youth and women by supporting them to establish poultry enterprises. This initiative is based on research showing that poultry farming can be highly profitable, especially when systemic challenges faced by smallholder farmers and young women are effectively addressed.
One of the major challenges AKM Glitters identified was the lack of accessible financing for agriculture and livestock. In response, the company committed to helping farmers become profitable and creditworthy.
“We secured two contracts with local banks to support smallholder farmers. We negotiated a financing model where 75% of the loan is offered at zero interest. Youth applicants only pay application fees, while the remaining 25% is covered through de-risking funds we mobilized from donors or the government,” explained Swai.
This year, AKM Glitters launched a contract farming initiative to source feed ingredients directly from smallholder farmers, thereby reducing production costs. The company also promotes climate-smart agriculture by producing black soldier flies for waste management and using eco-friendly briquettes as an alternative to charcoal.
Looking ahead, AKM Glitters plans to work with 6,600 smallholder farmers over the next four years. As of this year, they are already engaging 600 farmers. The company operates both commercial and developmental arms for chick production.
In Tanzania, agribusiness enterprise AKM Glitters is redefining inclusive rural development through its Development Wing, a grassroots initiative that engages 580 women agents working with more than 1.2 million smallholder poultry keepers across the country. By integrating nutrition, women’s empowerment, and youth livelihoods, the initiative reflects a holistic model of community-based growth.
This year alone, 340 youth have been engaged, with structured roles in brooders, fattening, slaughtering, and value addition clusters. Each youth supports between 50 and 150 smallholder farmers, creating ripple effects across local economies. The program also partners with Mercy Corps to support naturalized refugees in Tanzanian settlements. Special attention is given to young mothers, especially those who became pregnant at an early age, training them in poultry management with monthly earnings ranging from TSh 500,000 to 700,000 (about USD 226) through the sale of chickens.
“We train them to become brooders. They sell their chickens every month and earn a profit,” said Swai from AKM. “We work not just with smallholders, but also with displaced communities.”
Both Mr. Elie Mandela, Youth Lead at the Mastercard Foundation, and Dr. Mwaka Namukonda, Coordinator of CAYACC, emphasized the importance of equipping young people with the tools and support needed to thrive in agribusiness.
Mr. Mandela praised initiatives that enable youth to access dignified and fulfilling work, especially within poultry and the broader agri-food systems, noting that agriculture demonstrated resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic and continues to offer vast opportunities as the world of work evolves.
Dr. Namukonda highlighted critical gaps that still need to be addressed particularly the need for financial literacy, tailored incubation, and technology access. She stressed the urgency of upgrading tertiary education curricula to prepare youth for careers in smart farming, climate-resilient solutions, and agri-tech innovation.
“From automated feeding systems to mobile apps for veterinary support and e-commerce,” she noted, “we need to empower youth with the right tools to innovate and lead in a rapidly changing agricultural landscape.”
