Eggs are an affordable and nutritious source of critical macro- and micronutrients and have a significant effect in reducing stunting. However, egg availability is critically low in most LMICs​. Production systems are inefficient due to the dominant backyard poultry​. 

In Malawi, 37% of children under five are chronically malnourished (stunted) and about 86% of the population lives in rural areas, where most people practice smallholder subsistence farming. Although eggs have proven nutrition benefits, they continue to be scarce and costly in Malawi – the average per capita annual consumption is only 27 eggs compared to 180 globally. This is due to multiple demand-and-supply-side challenges, notably high disease and mortality among chicken, cost and quality of production inputs, and access to credit and markets. Cultural beliefs and taboos also undermine egg consumption among vulnerable groups who need them the most – women and children. 

The Egg Hub approach 

The SAL Egg Hub project was piloted in 12 villages in central Malawi to set up and develop poultry farms. The Egg Hub operator organizes smallholder farmers into groups of five and provides an input package, training, and market support to sell the eggs. Farmer groups are encouraged to buy improved feed at wholesale rates and sell eggs primarily in their communities. This makes fresh eggs affordable and accessible within the villages. The trucks that deliver feed bring any unsold excess eggs back to be sold in urban markets.