I enjoyed reading your entry. I found the “sheep donation chain” described in your entry especially intriguing, and am writing to learn more about the cycle of support your program requires.
If I understand correctly, in exchange for receiving 10 sheep in year 0, participating villages are required to repay this in-kind contribution with a donation of 10 sheep to another village in year 1. Where do these additional 10 sheep come from? Is it assumed that the first generation of sheep will birth at least 10 calves? And, where does the initial capital to purchase the sheep come from? I am not familiar with the raising sheep, but I would guess that their food and water requirements are substantial. How are these added costs to the farmer being addressed in your program design?
I think your objective to strengthen the connections between the rural farmers and end-users is an important one. How is this being facilitated? How are you gauging this impact?
Also, are you familiar with the organization Development Aid from People to People (DAPP) in Zambia? Your project reminded me of the great work in agriculture DAPP is doing. You can find their website at: http://www.dappzambia.org/
Best of luck in your important work,
Cecelia Tanaka
Cecelia, thanks a lot for your contribution. The sheep feed on pasture and household wastes like yam, plantain and cassava peels. Farmers don't spend money to feed the sheep. 10 out of the offsprings of the adults sheep donated to the villagers are given to the next village while they still retain the original parent stock.
Impact of the linkage of farmers to end-users is gauged through the proportion of the farmers' produce going to the organised market, increase in individual farmers' income through link to the organised market, and increase in end-users' request farmers' produce through the hotlines.
Thanks for sharing this important project. I know that sheep and goats are very reliable insurance commodities in rural settings. They play an important role in poverty alleviation. In general situations farmers or rural dwellers just keep the animals as money in bank which is used as the needs arise. They are easy to keep.
The feeding is also not too challenging in those rural settings. Besides, they also serve as a source of protein and a good hedge against food insecurity and poverty.
Please explain how you take care of medical treatment for the animals.
Dear Adewale,
Thank you for your comment. We use many volunteers in our work with the rural populace. These are volunteers who are responsible for even their transport costs. They are driven by their commitment to improving the lives of the people. Among these volunteers are vet doctors who have trained some of these rural dwellers in different project locations in some basic medical care for the animals. They make themselves available whenever their attention is needed and they are contacted through their mobile phones.
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Hello Morolake,
I enjoyed reading your entry. I found the “sheep donation chain” described in your entry especially intriguing, and am writing to learn more about the cycle of support your program requires.
If I understand correctly, in exchange for receiving 10 sheep in year 0, participating villages are required to repay this in-kind contribution with a donation of 10 sheep to another village in year 1. Where do these additional 10 sheep come from? Is it assumed that the first generation of sheep will birth at least 10 calves? And, where does the initial capital to purchase the sheep come from? I am not familiar with the raising sheep, but I would guess that their food and water requirements are substantial. How are these added costs to the farmer being addressed in your program design?
I think your objective to strengthen the connections between the rural farmers and end-users is an important one. How is this being facilitated? How are you gauging this impact?
Also, are you familiar with the organization Development Aid from People to People (DAPP) in Zambia? Your project reminded me of the great work in agriculture DAPP is doing. You can find their website at: http://www.dappzambia.org/
Best of luck in your important work,
Cecelia Tanaka
Cecelia, thanks a lot for your contribution. The sheep feed on pasture and household wastes like yam, plantain and cassava peels. Farmers don't spend money to feed the sheep. 10 out of the offsprings of the adults sheep donated to the villagers are given to the next village while they still retain the original parent stock.
Impact of the linkage of farmers to end-users is gauged through the proportion of the farmers' produce going to the organised market, increase in individual farmers' income through link to the organised market, and increase in end-users' request farmers' produce through the hotlines.
Dear Morolake,
Thanks for sharing this important project. I know that sheep and goats are very reliable insurance commodities in rural settings. They play an important role in poverty alleviation. In general situations farmers or rural dwellers just keep the animals as money in bank which is used as the needs arise. They are easy to keep.
The feeding is also not too challenging in those rural settings. Besides, they also serve as a source of protein and a good hedge against food insecurity and poverty.
Please explain how you take care of medical treatment for the animals.
Please keep up the good work.
Adewale
Dear Adewale,
Thank you for your comment. We use many volunteers in our work with the rural populace. These are volunteers who are responsible for even their transport costs. They are driven by their commitment to improving the lives of the people. Among these volunteers are vet doctors who have trained some of these rural dwellers in different project locations in some basic medical care for the animals. They make themselves available whenever their attention is needed and they are contacted through their mobile phones.
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