A community-based project on improving and sustaining food self-sufficiency through promoting integration, multiplication and intensified utilization of rural poultry has just started in villages in Mkwinda and Mitundu Extension Planning Areas (EPAs), Lilongwe Agricultural Development Division. These villages surround Bunda College of Agriculture. The project aims to operate through open-nucleus breeding centres established in rural communities and managed by a committee of farmers. The farmers and other community-based stakeholders are participating fully in all aspects and the community committees make all the decisions. Two breeding and multiplication centres have been established, one from each EPA, with an additional facility at Bunda College to conduct complementary trials. Breeding farmers from within the community will multiply and distribute breed stock to other farmers. Different species and strains of poultry (chickens, pigeons and ducks) will be raised and performance evaluated at the centres. The above average performing birds will be selected as breeding stock for farmers. Distribution will be through the traditional stock-sharing system. The project plans technical interventions such as Newcastle disease vaccination, feed supplementation and early weaning. Village committees and breeders will be trained in rural poultry management to sustain the programme afterwards.