Pig Farming in our rural partner villages has proven effective in increasing household income. New pig farmers receive financial, technical, and material support from Muditar, our sister organization in Myanmar. Farmers pay back the cost of their pig after the first year. As the farmers gain experience, they share knowledge with new farmers through group discussions and committees. Providing livelihood opportunities to women empowers them to become more confident leaders in their communities.
Rural villagers in Myanmar live on an average of $800 annually, surviving on subsistence farming, crops to sell at market, and transient work in neighboring countries. Traditionally, women rely on their husband's income to support the household. When women have their own earnings, they have a say in how to use the funds: education for their children, home improvements, increasing land ownership, or investing in growing their livelihood.
Shanta Foundation works to empower women by providing training for livelihood opportunities such as pig farming. Creating new husbandry education for our villagers offers those that choose to participate a reliable source of added income, educating participants for a good chance of success. Villagers learn a new means of income generation that helps them on their path out of poverty by equipping them with the expertise to manage their income generation into the future.
Out of 11 villages participating in pig farming, 7 have female farmers with an average added income of $289. This might not sound like a lot, but for someone with an annual income of $800, an increase of $289 is significant. And, to empower women to take control of their own livelihood is an achievement. Pig farmers can expect an annual income increase of 36% in the first year, followed by larger gains attributed to stronger husbandry skills over time which increase fattening and herd numbers.
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