A new round of field training in Zambia is strengthening the frontline workforce supporting small-scale poultry farmers as agricultural programs expand across the country.

The five-day training, held Feb. 16-20, brought together 11 Field Service Representatives from Muchinga, Eastern and Southern provinces.

The session focused on poultry health management, farm advisory services and digital data collection tools used to monitor farmer performance.

Organized by the World Poultry Foundation as part of the African Poultry Multiplication Initiative (APMI), the program prepares field officers to support small-scale farmers raising broiler chickens through structured poultry production networks.

Field officers provide technical guidance, monitor flock health and collect production data used by companies and partners to track program outcomes.

The initiative aims to strengthen poultry value chains while improving rural incomes and nutrition through small-scale livestock production.

Training sessions combined classroom instruction with practical exercises, including a poultry postmortem demonstration that allowed participants to study common poultry diseases and learn early detection methods.

Patrick Bwalya, a Field Service Representative from Eastern Province, said the hands-on sessions helped translate theory into field practice.

“One of the practical skills obtained was participating in a real chicken postmortem exercise,” Bwalya said. “We learned about diseases such as Gumboro, Newcastle and Coccidiosis. This helps us understand early signs and know when to seek professional veterinary support.”

Participants also reviewed poultry management practices that influence productivity, including feeding schedules, vaccination planning and farm biosecurity.

Dennis Sakala, an APMI manager at Hybrid Poultry, said the training emphasized recognizing disease symptoms early and applying management practices that reduce the spread of infection across flocks.

For program leaders, training remains central to strengthening small-scale poultry systems across Africa.

“Training has always been at the heart of every program we invest in and is central to our organizational strategy,” said Maureen Stickel, director of international program development at the World Poultry Foundation.

“Through the African Poultry Multiplication Initiative we have built a comprehensive training library that covers all aspects of poultry care and farm management tailored to the farmers we serve,” she said.

Beyond animal health, the program also addressed the economic and social context in which many farmers operate.

Field officers discussed strategies to engage rural households and encourage farmers to view poultry production as a source of both income and nutrition.

Chicken meat and eggs provide accessible sources of protein for rural families while offering opportunities for market sales.

“Ultimately, we want farmers to have the knowledge and confidence they need to thrive and to see poultry as a reliable pathway to improved income, nutrition and resilience,” Stickel said.

Digital data collection formed another core component of the training.

Participants learned how to record farmer details, flock performance and vaccination schedules using the CommCare mobile platform, which allows program managers to track farm conditions and identify emerging problems.

Sakala said the training also stressed professional conduct during farm visits, including gaining consent from farmers and ensuring that the information collected reflects the experience of the person directly responsible for the flock.

Accurate field reporting plays a central role in how poultry programs evaluate progress and allocate resources.

“Strengthening data integrity and field-level systems is central to our strategy because sustainable poultry value chains depend on farmers getting the right support at the right time,” Stickel said.

“Tracking farmer challenges and flock performance allows teams in the field and program partners to respond more precisely and strengthen the entire system,” she added.

Training coordinator Evelyn Tatenda Kamba said the program uses a combination of classroom instruction, coaching and online learning tools to strengthen field teams’ knowledge of poultry production systems.

The February training served both as an onboarding session for new field officers and as a refresher for experienced staff working within the program.

Across many rural areas, field officers remain the primary point of contact for small-scale poultry producers seeking technical advice or assistance during disease outbreaks.

Their role links farmers to veterinary expertise, production guidance and market networks.

As poultry initiatives expand across multiple provinces, program leaders say strengthening these frontline teams remains essential to maintaining productive and resilient poultry value chains.