Sowing seeds for lasting change in Farmers’ Clubs
Handing over of seeds, veterinary kits and livestock has begun in the Food and Nutrition Security project in Khammouane. Last week, villagers in Mahaxay and Nhommalath were the first to welcome their vegetable seeds, new equipment for Village Veterinary Workers and animals. Handing over ceremonies in the remaining four districts will be held in the upcoming days.
Regarding seeds, Farmers’ Clubs have received 15 kinds of vegetable seeds for their demonstration plots, such as carrots, spinach, cauliflower, cabbage, herbs, tomatoes, eggplant, beans, and many more. In total, 121 demo plots are currently being established (1 per village). After successfully sprouting these seeds for demo plots in their nurseries, FCs will distribute excess seeds among members for their personal vegetable fields. At a later stage, fruit trees will be given to all demonstration plots also.
The distribution of veterinary kits follows on training for Village Veterinary Workers. The kits include basic medication, vaccines and other medical equipment and will enable Vet Workers to provide comprehensive livestock management support to farmers. In total, 102 kits will be handed out in all 6 districts.
Where there is confident Village Veterinary Workers, there is also happy animals – the project includes the distribution of livestock to benefit 2,500 families by the end of 2020. Over the next weeks, 4,000 chickens, 4,000 ducks, 100 pigs and 150 goats will be handed out to 1,700 families who are FC members. Through the animal pass-on scheme, communities will be able to sustainably grow their livestock and share animals with more and more families over the years to come. Passing on means that families who receive animals commit to giving offspring from the first one or two litters to other families, and training them in how to look after the animals properly. These families, in turn, will do the same when their animals have reproduced, and so on. In this way, the animal pass-on schemes will contribute to the overall project objective of improving food security and nutrition.
