Bill Gates launches 'chicken plan' to help Africa's poor

[Lion Heart 15,041]

Microsoft founder Bill Gates has launched a campaign to help extremely poor families in sub-Saharan Africa by giving them chickens.

The billionaire and philanthropist says raising and selling the birds can be efficient to tackle extreme poverty.

He has promised to donate 100,000 chickens, and the project's page has already been shared thousands of times.

The UN estimates that 41% of people in sub-Saharan Africa live in extreme poverty.

Mr Gates said a farmer breeding five hens could earn more than $1,000 (£690) a year. The poverty line is about $700 (£484).

He added that the goal was to help 30% of the rural families in sub-Saharan Africa raise improved breeds of vaccinated chickens, up from the current 5%.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-36487536

[Serendipity 7,821]

what if they don't like chicken?  

[RAMROD 117,017]

InB4 people calling him racist cos fried chixken

 

[fashion monster 397]

12 minutes ago, Baby Blue said:

what if they don't like chicken?  

They can eat eggs. Or they can sell them and buy what they like.

[Adakam 2]

28 minutes ago, Baby Blue said:

what if they don't like chicken?  

dont want to sound mean but, its not like they have a choice, if this can help them and change people's lives somehow, im sure theyll enjoy their chickens

[Poot 719]

Amazing! It's always great to see ppl from the top 1% actually helping to fight poverty 

[River 127,362]

[lego 44,165]

What about the vegans?

 

 

 

 

 

jk

[Harry 26,836]

1 hour ago, Baby Blue said:

what if they don't like chicken?  

Um well without sounding harsh they aren't in a position to be choosy.

But anyway I think it's more to do with raising, breeding and selling them than eating them.

[Luc 4,776]

I'm sure he's let others do some research in the effectiveness of this... but I don't see how this would work? Chickens don't magically create energy, all energy their meat consists out of is eventually from the plants that are in the area. Meanwhile, they also consume some energy. In the end, energy is actually lost, so unless Bill Gates also manages to keep these chicken fed, I don't see how this would work. 

Investing in insects (nice alliteration ) would be way smarter, because they lose much less energy while living, allowing for more efficient usage of the limited amount of plants/energy in plants in an area.

I also wonder if it would actually be helpful for these farmers to sell chicken... they need to be able to make enough food for themselves in the first place, even in years of drought, and making money is of secondary importance. I don't believe money is as important for the poorest of the poor in the world, considering they are usually all farmers who grow many different kinds of vegetables and such, not really trading anything with anyone.

[Whispering 18,865]

56 minutes ago, Poot said:

Amazing! It's always great to see ppl from the top 1% actually helping to fight poverty 

Bill Gates gives 99 per cent of his income to charity and has an organization that works to encourage other wealthy people to do the same. He and his wife spend their time, energy and money on trying to make the world a better place.