From Feed to Fortune: How 25-Year-Old Mutini Cheta is Rewriting the Poultry Playbook in Zambia
"When the Zambia National Youth in Poultry Webinar convened farmers, policymakers, and agribusiness players, it did more than share information, it ignited possibilities. Among the voices that stood out was that of Mutini Cheta, a 25-year-old entrepreneur and Co-Managing Director already commanding attention through his company, Wattles and Combs Poultry Ltd. Speaking with clarity and […]"
When the Zambia National Youth in Poultry Webinar convened farmers, policymakers, and agribusiness players, it did more than share information, it ignited possibilities. Among the voices that stood out was that of Mutini Cheta, a 25-year-old entrepreneur and Co-Managing Director already commanding attention through his company, Wattles and Combs Poultry Ltd.
Speaking with clarity and conviction, Cheta captured the attention of participants when he remarked: "Feed is not just a cost, it's the difference between survival and profitability in poultry. Once farmers understand that, they begin to take control of their business." His words reflected lived experience.
At Wattles and Combs, where production reaches 80,000 birds annually, feed accounts for nearly 70% of total costs, a reality that has shaped his entrepreneurial journey. Instead of being constrained by this challenge, Cheta turned it into an opportunity, positioning his company not only as a poultry producer but as a feed solutions provider for other farmers.
Throughout the webinar, Cheta’s contribution went beyond sharing numbers; he told a story of building from the ground up, navigating volatile input markets and innovating within constraints. He explained how his team supports farmers with practical feed formulation strategies, helping them adjust to fluctuating soybean availability while minimising dependence on costly premixes such as lysine and methionine.
"We cannot wait for perfect conditions. We innovate with what we have—local soybean, local knowledge—and that's how we stay competitive," he emphasised.
What resonated most strongly was his commitment to lifting others as he grows. Through structured training programs, Wattles and Combs has already trained over 2,000 farmers, equipping youth and women across provinces with the technical and business skills needed to thrive in poultry production. His approach is hands-on, grounded in real farm economics, and focused on profitability rather than theory.
A major turning point in scaling this impact came through strategic partnerships. Cheta revealed that his company is currently working with iDE, an organisation specialising in last-mile distribution. Their collaboration began after connecting at a poultry forum organised by AGRA the previous year.
Through this partnership, Wattles and Combs has been linked to 59 agro-dealers, each serving networks of approximately 200 farmers. This has dramatically expanded their reach, creating a powerful distribution channel that connects smallholder farmers to affordable feed solutions, knowledge, and markets. What started as a single enterprise is now evolving into a scalable ecosystem supporting thousands of farmers.
The webinar also highlighted tangible results already emerging from such efforts. With improved local soybean production, feed prices have dropped significantly, from around 800 ZMW to approximately 500 ZMW per 50kg bag, easing pressure on smallholder farmers.
At the same time, awareness of the Simplified Trade Regime (STR) is opening new doors, enabling youth-led enterprises to think beyond local markets and position themselves within regional value chains. Cheta underscored this opportunity with a forward-looking perspective: "The future of poultry is not just production, it's market access. If young farmers can produce efficiently and connect to regional markets, then poultry becomes a serious business, not just a side activity."
His leadership is already influencing broader sector dynamics. By fostering collaboration between poultry producers and crop farmers, particularly those producing maize and soybeans, he is contributing to a more stable and integrated value chain.
At the same time, his insights are feeding into ongoing advocacy efforts to reduce the cost of key inputs and strengthen the competitiveness of the poultry sector. In many ways, Mutini Cheta embodies the very outcome the webinar sought to achieve: a young, forward-thinking agripreneur who is not only building a successful enterprise but also shaping an ecosystem where others can succeed.
His journey is a reminder that with the right knowledge, networks, and determination, youth can move from the margins of agriculture to the centre of transformation—and, in doing so, carry thousands along with them.
Deep Analysis
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Automated insights generated by DeepSeek-V3 based on the article content.
Key Impact
- Mutini Cheta's poultry company, Wattles and Combs Poultry Ltd, produces 80,000 birds annually and has trained over 2,000 farmers across Zambia.
- Feed costs dropped from 800 ZMW to about 500 ZMW per 50kg bag due to improved local soybean production and feed formulation strategies.
- A partnership with iDE and AGRA connected Wattles and Combs to 59 agro-dealers, each reaching around 200 farmers, expanding access to affordable feed and markets.
- Cheta's approach is shifting poultry from a side activity to a serious business by focusing on market access and regional trade integration.
Background
- Cheta, a 25-year-old co-managing director, founded Wattles and Combs Poultry Ltd in Zambia, where feed accounts for nearly 70% of total costs.
- The Zambia National Youth in Poultry Webinar brought together farmers and policymakers to share insights, with Cheta highlighting feed as a survival versus profitability factor.
- Volatile input markets and dependence on costly premixes like lysine and methionine pushed Cheta to innovate with local soybean and local knowledge.
- A major turning point was connecting with iDE at an AGRA-organized poultry forum, leading to a partnership that scaled last-mile feed distribution.
Benefits
- Over 2,000 farmers (including youth and women across Zambian provinces) gained hands-on training in poultry production and business skills.
- Smallholder farmers now access affordable feed solutions through 59 agro-dealers, reducing production costs and boosting profitability.
- Improved local soybean production lowered feed prices from 800 ZMW to 500 ZMW per 50kg bag, easing financial pressure on farmers.
- Awareness of the Simplified Trade Regime (STR) helps youth-led enterprises connect to regional value chains, expanding market opportunities.
Risks & Warnings
- Dependence on local soybean crops may lead to feed price spikes during droughts or poor harvests in Zambia's key growing regions like Central and Eastern Provinces.
- A lack of formal training on feed formulation could result in nutritional imbalances if farmers misuse local ingredients without proper guidance.
- Scaling through partnerships might strain small agro-dealers if demand rises faster than their capacity to supply or maintain quality.
- If the Simplified Trade Regime (STR) is not widely adopted or enforced, regional market access benefits may remain limited for youth-led businesses.
Who Is Affected
- Smallholder poultry farmers across Zambian provinces (like Lusaka, Copperbelt, and Southern) who now access cheaper feed and training through agro-dealers.
- Youth and women farmers in Zambia, who are the primary trainees and beneficiaries of Wattles and Combs' hands-on programs.
- Crop farmers (maize and soybean producers) in Zambia, who are linked to poultry value chains, reducing waste and stabilizing incomes.
- Agro-dealers and input suppliers in Zambia, especially the 59 dealers partnering with iDE, who grow their business by serving farmer networks.
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