In most cases in developing countries, it has been observed that a project dies a natural death when a donor closes project implementation. The lack of continuity and/or sustainability spirit to carry on with a particular project when it closes is worrisome for it fails to achieve the goals behind conceiving a particular project.
However, this is not the case with the World Bank funded Chimbiya Piggery Cooperative (CPC) project in Malawi’s central district of Dedza in that the cooperative is still vibrant and growing stronger, three years since the donor left.
The World Bank through a project called Irrigation, Rural Livelihoods and Agricultural Development Project (IRLADP) funded the then 14 women dominated members of the CPC to do pig farming as one way of improving their livelihoods thereby alleviating poverty which is most rampant in Malawi’s rural areas.
During a recent media tour organized by the World Bank, the Chairperson of the grouping Mrs Rhoda Mang’anya, a widow herself, narrated how IRLADP came as that angel of salvation.
“We started pig farming in 2004. In 2012, IRLADP helped us with MK1, 000,000 to construct good pigsties. They have also been helping us with technical advice through Agriculture extension officers. They taught us how to take good care of our pigs, how to administer drugs to the pigs and how to do farm business plan,” narrated Mang’anya.
Success stories
The chairperson disclosed that despite IRLADP closing in 2014, the cooperative is still going stronger with lots of success stories to share.
She said that the cooperative now boasts of 38 members who have all built iron sheet-roofed houses as a result of pig farming.
“Personally, I have managed to renovate this house you are seeing, thanks to pig farming business. Not only that, I pay tuition fees for my children, thanks to the same business. Over and above this, I convinced my son who had a strong desire to go to South Africa to look for greener pastures to abandon his plan and join this group and courtesy of this business, my son has managed to buy his own plot and has built a beautiful house. Again, he has also bought that car you are seeing there, apart from opening a shop at the trading centre,” said Mang’anya.
Groups from within and without the country flock here to learn pig farming
Mang’anya also disclosed their cooperative has now become the centre of attention in the country as it hosts groups from all walks of life who wish to learn pig farming.
“Groups and even prominent personalities from across the country come to learn from us,” said Mang’anya citing Dr Kalindakafe of Mandevu farm in Zomba as one of the people who have benefited from their group.
The lady chairperson also said that earlier this year in February they hosted a delegation from Lesotho who came solely to learn the tricks of the trade from them.
“Our (Malawi) Ministry of Agriculture upon being requested by their Lesotho counterparts to help teach their cooperatives leaders on pig farming business sent them to us. We were humbled and encouraged by this gesture from our government to identify us as a grouping which a foreign delegation could learn from,” said Mang’anya.
On her part, the Communication Officer for the World Bank in Malawi Zeria Banda was all smiles and “extremely impressed” to learn about the success stories of CPC.
“Ensuring beneficiaries do not fall back into poverty when a livelihoods project has closed is extremely important to the World Bank. When you see project beneficiaries continuing to independently improve their livelihoods you know the project empowered them with the right tools to fight poverty,”said Banda.