Kayonza women reap big from rearing business

By Inspirer Staff.

At least 69 women of whom some are teen mothers and disabled people -who used to have stunted children in rural part of Kayonza district- are reaping millions of francs from a project to rear poultry, pigs, goats and rabbits.

They are grouped in ‘Care Group’ funded by Hinga Weze-USAID funded project.

A Care Group is a group of community-based volunteer health educators who regularly meet for training on behavior change communication.

Theophile Mukamasengesho- a mother from Ruyonza cell in Ruramira sector of Kayonza district- is the head of care group and also community health worker in charge of promoting nutrition.

She said the women had stunted children and in order to graduate from destitution and malnutrition, they created a loan and saving group pave way for investing in rearing small livestock in 2017.

“This Taba village had many stunted children. Each of the group members had to contribute a share of Rwf300. It was a loan and savings group whereby this money had to be loaned to a member to start a small business and pay back with interest rate,” she said.

She said from the savings, the group collected Rwf600,000 in 2017.

“We spent this money to buy two rabbits and two chickens for each member of 69 members,” she said.

The head of the group explained that members would then get eggs for stunted children, sell others and also get manure for fertilizing crops in kitchen gardens they set up.

“This has totally eradicated stunting from families that were suffering in the village,” she noted.

Rwf1.3m savings

Mukamasengesho said that they increased member’s share contribution from Rwf300 to Rwf500 in 2018.

“We opened a bank account for our savings. The savings amounted to Rwf1.3 million. As a group, we bought 34 goats, 44 pigs to develop ourselves.” she said.

She said that the 44 pigs delivered over 264 piglets which grew up.

She said that these domestic animals provided them with manure to fertilize seeds of vegetables obtained from the Hinga Weze-USAID funded project.

“We grew carrots, onions, beetroots, iron beans and tree tomatoes. In the group, we learnt the best techniques of loan and saving groups using our rearing and farming project. This also solved many conflicts in our families,” she said.

10, 000 eggs from chickens

The head of the care group said that they received more 200 chickens worth Rwf400,000 as a loan for the group.

“They grew up. We sold 76 cocks. We have currently 124 chickens giving us eggs,” she said.

From February to July, the group had collected 9,868 eggs.

“We sold these eggs and obtained about Rwf1 million. We have managed to pay back the loan,” she noted.

From the current 124 chickens shared by the group, the group collects over 100 eggs every day.

There is a worker paid Rwf20,000 per month to keep them.

Besides shared chickens as a group, each member has also their poultry rearing project supported by the group.

After each member was also given two rabbits, they produced more rabbits and they passed on over 100 rabbits to the group.

“We sell rabbits at between Rwf2,000 and Rwf3,000,” she said.

Members speak out

Pauline Mukamana, is a member of the care group

She said that she has four children and two of them were stunted.

“I was poor but joining the care group has transformed my life as the children are no longer malnourished,” she said.

From the savings group, she said she got a loan.

“I bought chickens and rabbits. I sell rabbits when the school calendar starts to satisfy the needs for children. I have currently six rabbits and three of them gave to 21 kittens. ,” she said.

Ibrahim Idaya Nyamwiza, another member said that the first two rabbits in 2017 gave birth to 16 rabbits.

“They multiplied. I always sell them to pay school fees for my children. I have four children. If I sell 20 rabbits at once at Rwf3,000 each, I get enough money,” she said.

Currently she has over 20,000 rabbits.

Solange Uwitije, one of nine teen mothers in the group said one pig she got from the group in 2018   has so far given birth to 39 pigs.

“I sell one pig at Rwf60, 000 once it grows up. From the income I learn tailoring as a TVET skill and I have bought a tailoring machine worth Rwf100, 000,” she said.