Field Reports
"A Pig Van Djouke Project"
2017 ACTIVITY AND FINANCIALREPORT
Theme for 2017 ;- "Stretching the hand of fellowship with Joy and dignity"
Period of execution;- 1st March - 12th May 2017
"THAT WE MAY LIVE TOGETHER AND BE SUPPORTIVE TO EACH OTHERS PROGRESS"
"You may have the piglet and the feed but still you need to be prayerful and hardworking to see light at the end of the tunnel. We have hope and trust in God that he will give Djouke health and wisdom as she drives her vision within our communities".Written and submitted by'-
Atomba Titus Tegwi
Project Coordinator
NOWEPFA COOP- BOD - Cameroon
P O Box 729 - Bamenda
http//Nowepifac.com
mobilelivestock1995@gmail.com
Introduction:
Last year 2016 it was in Batibo sub division, precisely in Guzang village that the pigs from the 2015 beneficiary of the project where handed to beneficiaries of the 2016.
It was during the birth day of Djouke, the project donor (30th March). This year 2017 the same scenario took place this time in the village of Bawock in Bali Sub division.
This report will render account of the 625 Euros sent by Djouke through a Dutch family friend who is settled in Cameroon named Mr. Ben Zwinkels.
It will be important to note here that this year 2017 this project is 10 years old and so the POG exercise culminated with the anniversary celebration.
Beneficiaries were given time to give testimonies on how this project has help them to alleviate poverty in their different homes.
The monthly magazine, "The Farmers' Voice" journalist Mr. Joy Ful was there to listen to the farmers and their stories will be published in the May 2017 edition of the newspaper.
Nkuinja Rosaline did not pass on the gift but rather sold her sow and piglets to take care of her critical health condition. The project coordinator was not informed before the pig was sold even though we later on saw the necessity.
In all we collected 8 piglets from Beneficiaries of last year and so had to buy two more to make up for the 10 we handed over this year 2017.
STEPS IN THE EXECUTION OF THE 2017 POG:
Follow up and collection of female piglets from the last year beneficiaries and transporting them to the Mobile livestock piggery in Bamenda where these piglets will have to stay, waiting for the day of POG. This exercise took place on different days because the piglets were also ready for collection on different days.
Purchase of feed ingredients andtransporting them to the cooperative hall for subsequent grinding and mixing. The mixing is often done manually at the NOWEPFA COOPBOD- LTD head office in Bamenda. Some of the feed is composed earlier on to be feeding the piglets in the waiting fence prior to the POG day.
A meeting with group leaders to select deserving beneficiaries for the year is held at the head office in Bamenda. During this meeting the day of POG is scheduled as agreed by all present. All logistics arrangements for that day are arranged and responsibilities shared. An agenda for the POG day is fixed and subsequently distributed to all invitees.
Transportation of the composed feed and piglets from the cooperative head office in Bamenda to Bawock where the event is scheduled to take place.
On the POG day, the prepared agenda is respected even though some times with some minor adjustments in the time frame set aside for each activity.(See agenda)
2017 BENEFICIARIES OF THE PIG VAN DJOUKE PROJECT:
FINANCIAL REPORT OF THE 2017 POG ACTIVITY (Part 1):
Money Received totally = 409,000 FRS (625 Euros)
Working Budget for 2017 POG Phase ONE = 276,000 FRS (Approximately 425 Euros)
Contribution by donor = 276,000 frs CFA
Contribution from Group Annual dues and freewill from members = 48,000 frs CFA
B/F to Phase two = 133,000frs CFA, (One hundred and thirty three thousand francs CFA)
RADIO ANNOUNCEMENT:
NORTH WEST PIG FARMERS COOPERATIVE SOCIETY WITH BOD LIMITED
(NOW EPFA - COOPBOD LTD)
Training in livestock farm management techniques and projects
Our Ref: ……………………
Your Ref. ……………………
Bamenda, NW Region Cameroon
Tel: 677 57 85 99, 653 253 131
e-mail:mobilelivestock1995@gmail.com
http//nowepifac.com
RADIO ANNOUNCEMENT
The Project coordinator of North West pig Farmers Cooperative Society informs all its members, pig farmers of Batibo sub division and most especially members of groups affiliated to the cooperative to come and witness the 2017 edition of "A Pig Van Djouke Project".
During this tenth anniversary edition, some 10 pig farmers shall be receiving a female piglet and a bag of 50kg complete mixed feed each.
The event is scheduled to take place at the cooperative hall in Bawock on Friday 12th April 2017, starting at 9.00AM prompt.
Members of the cooperative are advised to put on their cooperative T-shirts.
Group leaders are advised to meet up with their obligations as agreed during the delegates meeting that took place in Bamenda on Tuesday 25th April 2017, latest Sunday 7th May 2017.
INVITATION LETTER:
NORTH WEST PIG FARMERS COOPERATIVE SOCIETY WITH BOD LIMITED
(NOW EPFA - COOPBOD LTD)
Training in livestock farm management techniques and projects
Our Ref: ……………………
Your Ref. ……………………
Bamenda, NW Region Cameroon
Tel: 677 57 85 99, 653 253 131
e-mail:mobilelivestock1995@gmail.com
http//nowepifac.com
SPECIAL INVITATION
Dear
Mr, Mrs., Miss ……………………………………………………………
With much respect and honor, we wish to kindly invite you to come and witness one of our most cherished project geared towards the promotion of pig farming within the North West Region.
The project, captioned "A Pig Van Djouke" meaning, a pig from Djouke is in its 10th edition this year 2017.
It is Scheduled to take place at the cooperative hall in Bawock, starting from 9.00AM prompt on Friday 12th May 2017.
Find attached a copy of the agenda of that day as we thank you in advance for your attendance and moral participation.
AGENDA OF THE DAYS:
10th ANNIVERSARY EDITION - Friday, May 12th 2017
AGENDA OF THE DAYS
"WISHING YOU ALL A SAFE RETURN, THANKS FOR HONORING OUR INVITATION"
SPEECH OF THE PROJECT COORDINATOR:
10th ANNIVERSARY EDITION - Friday, May 12th 2017
SPEECH OF THE PROJECT COORDINATOR
The Sub Divisional delegates, MINEPIIA/MINADER Bali,
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and gentlemen,
I am very delighted to welcome all of you here today for this 10th Anniversary edition of our famous project, "A Pig Van Djouke" Meaning, A Pig From Djouke. Before I proceed, I will like to give you a very brief introduction of the North west Pig Farmers Cooperative society, (NOWEPFA -COOPBOD LTD ) and the above mentioned project.
The pig farmer's cooperative was created in June 2004 with the intension of promoting pig farming by way of fighting the 3 major worries of the sector which are specifically the feeding of pigs, the marketing of pigs and the seasonal disease attacks.
This vision and mission statement could be seen designated on the triangular logo on our T-shirts by the letters FMD meaning Feed, Marketing and Disease. Since its creation the cooperative has supported its members in seeking solutions to these crises in different ways and in different communities as follows;-
In the area of pig feed, the cooperative uses shares of members to purchase animal feed ingredients in bulk and sell to its members at a cost lower than public prices.
It also opens up feed distribution centers in different communities where its member groups are found and then train its members on how to compose balanced rations for the pigs at different state and stages of life.
In the area of marketing, we assist our members in the marketing of their piglets as well as adult ones both locally and to external markets.
In the area of pig diseases, the cooperative with the assistance of its veterinary technical staff schedules routine vaccination programs for its members and also organizes quarterly training for its members and would be members as well.
For the smooth running and proper management of its activities, all group delegates (leaders) hold monthly meetings in the cooperative building in Bawock to have exchange discussions on issues affecting the life of the cooperative and hold general assembly meetings twice a year.
The pig cooperative management has been able to lobby for funds over the years to support many of its member groups in improving their infrastructure, and providing for those who are able to sustain and support the survival of a pig till maturity and delivery, a female piglet to rear.
This kind of assistance has been done to the Feshang Women group members in Baba 1 Ndop, Mile 18 Mbengwi -Bugndeh Pig farmers group, Struggling women group Mulang in Bamenda, Lovely Sisters -Bifang-Widikum, and also to cooperative group members in Batibo and Bawock.
The project which has brought us here today was started in 2007 when I met with Djouke and her family for the first time in the Netherlands. Djouke was 7 years old at that time.
In May, 2012 Djouke and her mother Gea visited Cameroon and we met again, this time in Bawock to celebrate 5 years of her project.
During that time we could count 88 beneficiaries of this project. Today, the project is 10 years old and we have an additional 25 persons who have benefited from the gift of a female piglet and feed while some 14 more have benefited from the gift of infrastructures, some with farrowing crates, giving a grand total of 127 beneficiaries.
ARCHIEVEMENTS OF THE PROJECT;
The primary intension of "A pig Van Djouke Project" is to alleviate poverty amongst poor Africans beginning with Cameroon since Djouke was fortunate to have someone who can carry forward her dream coming from Cameroon.
In 2012 in Bawock, we listened to testimonies from beneficiaries and today we will be listening to more of such testimonies on how this project has improved on the lives of some of us in several ways.
With the construction of infrastructures in different communities by this project, lessons have been learnt about modern methods of pig housing by both members of the cooperative as well as members of the public who have attained trainings organized by the cooperative through the Dutch girl's initiative prior to each Passing Over the Gift (POG) exercise.
Our farmers have also got adequate knowledge on pig nutrition and animal routine health care services as well as biosecurity measures through these trainings.
It is worth mentioning that the overall goal of the pig cooperative, which is to improve on the method and promote pig farming within the north west region has been achieved to a greater extend thanks to this project.
PROBLEMS /DIFFICULTIES FACED BY THE PROJECT;
As it is the case with other people centered projects, this project has equally faced a number of set-backs which I will like to mention just a few.
Instead of helping to bring people together as one with a common vision and mission, it will rather be strange enough to know that this project has helped to scatter most of our cooperative groups and members because people are not patient enough to wait for their turn of benefiting since the funds for this project are not sufficient enough to provide the gift to many people at a time but just for a few chosen persons from the many groups of the cooperative.
For the simple reason that "x" has benefited and not "Y", Y decides not to join the group/cooperative again because he/she considers that he/she has not been favored by the leader during the selection process. This kind of discontent has led to some beneficiaries losing their pigs mysteriously in a way veterinary science cannot explain.
Another very critical issue that may be difficult to comprehend is that, it is hoped that those who have benefited from the project will always be the first persons to respond to the calls of cooperative management but on the contrary they are the very first persons to absent from group/cooperative meetings for fear of making a financial contribution that will lead to others benefiting, after all his/her turn is over.
Another very interesting side of the story of this project is that on a day of POG all selected beneficiary will like to take home the best breed of piglet which is in a good nutritional state to the extend that some will even reject the choices given to them through ballot luck, but when it comes to the time of passing over from their farms they will rather select the smallest (runt) piglets from their stock to pass over.
In another experience some farmers have shown extreme dishonesty by telling lies that their pig have died when actually the pig has been sold.
Another problem is that some group leaders do not consider the sustainability aspect of the project and so make choices of beneficiaries based on family or friendship lineage rather than consider the fact that the person to benefit has the appropriate good housing condition and will be able to feed the pig well after the project feed is finished.
By so doing, it takes usually longer for the pig to produce the desired results and sometimes even fails to produce the result at all. Because of the lack of housing facility by the chosen beneficiaries, some group leaders have ended up owning the gift (piglet) that was actually not destined for them with the advice of the project coordinator when it is later on discovered that the beneficiary is unable to house the piglet properly.
Another difficulty of this project arises from the fact that since the piglets are of different ages the time of farrowing (delivery) also varies with the different beneficiaries and so this create a problem of synchronizing the time of collecting the POGs from the beneficiaries.
The implication of this is that some piglets wait for too long at the Mobile Livestock Piggery fence where sometime they become too old to pass over because obviously everybody will like to collect the oldest piglet and so the scramble will create chaos on the day of POG.
Much feed unbudgeted by the project, belonging to the Mobile Livestock Piggery farm is often being consumed by the waiting piglets and so to avoid this problem, the project coordinator has to make provision for another piglet either from the Mobile Livestock piggery farm or purchase from another farmer to balance the age differences prior to the day of POG.
Some of the 10 farmers who benefited from the infrastructure support fund have deliberately refused to use the Zinc set aside for the roofing of their pig style and kept it for reasons best known to them meanwhile others are in desperate need of the roofing facility.
All of these things I have mentioned above are related to bad fate and dishonesty which we need to discourage as much as possible before it gets to the knowledge of the project donor.
It should be noted that farmers whose pigs were not bred but rather they sold the sows and bought the POG female piglet from other farms have failed to attain the objective of the project because they will end up with no remains of the benefit so have nothing to show prove of the sustainability of the Djouke initiative. This is something we must discourage this year and subsequently.
PROPOSAL FOR A WAY FORWORD;
Looking at the problems listed above I will like to make the following proposals ;-
We should learn to be patient and give others a chance to benefit before us with joy and happiness, after all we have not got information that the project is ending soon.
During selection meetings, group leaders should be transparent in making choices of beneficiaries because the project coordinator has very little influence over the choices.
All members should respect the payment of annual dues because it is with the annual dues that the cooperative management functions;- prepares reports and sustains communication with group leaders, the project donor as well as carrying out project evaluation visits to obtain information for reporting.
No Beneficiary shall sell his/her sow without the knowledge of the project coordinator and no piglet should be sold by the beneficiary prior to the collection of the POG female.
Before confirming a beneficiary, the project management team should verify to confirm that proper housing facility is available and that the chosen beneficiary is financially viable to take the piglet to maturity when the project feed if finished.
If a beneficiary fails to meet up with the targeted timing of POG for no clear reason the group concern will not provide a beneficiary for the coming year even if all the members are eligible.
If a beneficiary provides a low quality piglet for POG, the piglet will be given to another beneficiary of that same group.
If a piglet for POG has to be bought for any justifiable reason ,then the choice of piglet should be accepted by the project coordinator.
Dear farmers, Ladies and gentlemen, the cultural importance of a pig to a Moghamo man cannot be overemphasized, so the success and sustainability of this project in Batibo sub-division has a cultural backing and so is guaranteed.
At this point and time I will like to make an appeal on behalf of the project donor Djouke, who may be joining us here next year to evaluate the level of success or failure of her project that we all should remain honest and true to the course, working within the prescriptions of the project donor, keeping proper farm records such that we can numerate clearly our benefits from the project.
It is also my humble appeal to those who have not been able to benefit this year to wait patiently for their turn next year while staying close and faithful to the cooperative.
On behalf of the cooperative management, I will like to thank sincerely those who have traveled from far and near to come and witness this event because it shows prove of your wish to be part of us and our doors are open to new membership because our motto says, :Unity is Strength".
It is our prayers that God almighty takes you back home safely and for all the beneficiaries, guides you to succeed to have the pass over in time next year and win a bag of feed, prize of excellence for the first to have the POG ready. Good luck and God bless you all.
It is our prayers that God almighty takes you back home safely and for all the beneficiaries, guides you to succeed to have the pass over in time next year and win a bag of feed, prize of excellence for the first to have the POG ready. Good luck and God bless you all.
Long Live Pig farming
Long Live Ministry of Livestock Fisheries and Animal Industries,
Long Live Cameroon.
PICTURES OF THE EVENT:
NB'- Pictures of the Event at different levels could be seen bellow and for the achievements and difficulties faced etc, see the speech of project coordinator above.CONCLUSION:
It must be noted that it is thanks to this project that the pig cooperative is still surviving and expanding, giving hope to many who now show interest in its activities and so despite all the difficulties faced listed in the coordinator's speech, the future is bright with cooperative if this project is supported and sustained for a few more years.Back to top of the page