Where:

Nabikakala, Masaka District

Main Aim/Objective:

To train people in the keeping of pigs for purposes of income and food and to ensure this process is sustainable in the long term.

Description:

CODEWE wishes to establish a piggery in Nabikakala, with an initial 20 pigs, which will be run by the organisation with the aim of providing training to people in the keeping of pigs.

Those being trained will attend the training centre 2-3 times per week for a period of 6 months. We will require a permanent worker to look after the pigs and it is hoped this person will take on the training. The breed we will use is a fast growing, fast maturing pig which is ready to reproduce at 6 months old. Hence, with a 6 month training programme participants will learn to care for the pig right through to maturity.

Upon completing their training, each participant will receive one piglet. For this first pig, CODEWE will provide any medication required as well as half the food requirements. However, the owner will have to find the remaining food as they must demonstrate an ability and willingness to take responsibility for the pig. Throughout this time CODEWE will monitor to ensure people are caring for their pigs properly.

The first time this pig reproduces, the owner will give half the piglets back to the organisation, and be encouraged to keep the remaining pigs rather than selling them immediately.

Any male offspring will be sold, as well as any manure from the piggery, in order to continue to fund the project. The piggery will become self-sustaining as we will not distribute all the pigs we produce - the remainder will be kept (to continue training) or sold.

Prior Experience:

We distributed 12 piglets to 4 families in late 2008. These have since doubled in number, however due to very dry conditions there has been a period of hunger in Nabikakala, and Masaka District at large, so feeding pigs as well as people has become increasingly difficult.

Costs:

The initial construction should cost around 22.5 million Shillings (US$11,800). We have already secured land in Nabikakala for this project. The initial 20 piglets will cost 1 million Shillings (US$525), at 50,000 Shillings ($26) each.

We will then need to fund the running costs of the project for the first 6 months. After this it should be financially self-sustaining. Monthly running costs should be around 1-2 million Shillings (US$525-1050). This includes the costs of a permanent worker (175,000 Shillings (US$95)) and food (300,000-600,000 Shillings (US$155-310)) as well as other costs such as medicines.