Enhancing Livelihoods through Sustainable Piggery

As we reach another important milestone in the Piggery Project, we are excited to share the latest developments and learning experiences from our farming communities. This update highlights the encouraging progress in pig reproduction, as well as the challenges our farmers are facing and the actions being taken to address them.

Pig Reproduction and Growth

We are pleased to report that many of the pigs distributed under the project have successfully reproduced. This is a positive achievement that reflects the farmers' commitment to providing proper care and management.

The increasing pig population not only promises improved household incomes in the future but also strengthens the sustainability of the project by creating a continuous supply of piglets that can benefit additional households.

Challenges Encountered

Despite this encouraging progress, a few challenges have emerged:

• One sow suffered a vaginal tear during farrowing and is currently producing insufficient milk to adequately feed her piglets.
• An outbreak of swine fever has been reported in Mbaraara, affecting some of our project farmers' pigs and posing a significant threat to livestock production.

Actions Taken

To address these challenges, SHCAN has taken the following steps:

• A veterinary professional was engaged to provide immediate treatment and guidance for the injured sow.
• The sow is being supported with nutritious food concentrates, iron injections, and adequate clean water to aid her recovery and improve milk production.
• Farmers have been advised to immediately isolate any pig showing signs of illness, such as high fever, red patches on the skin, loss of appetite, or lethargy, to reduce the risk of disease transmission.
• Farmers continue to receive guidance on good husbandry and disease prevention practices to protect the health of their animals.

Looking Ahead

These experiences remind us that successful livestock farming requires constant attention, timely intervention, and continuous learning. While challenges are inevitable, they also provide valuable opportunities to strengthen our management practices and improve the resilience of our farmers.

We remain committed to supporting our farmers with the knowledge, veterinary care, and technical assistance needed to ensure the long-term success and sustainability of the Piggery Project.

The Piggery Project is a community-based initiative aimed at improving the livelihoods of smallholder farmers by providing them with piglets for rearing. The project seeks to enhance food security, generate income, and promote sustainable livestock farming practices among smallholder farmers. By distributing piglets to farmers, the project will create a ripple effect of economic empowerment especially among the women, which will promote sustainable livelihoods among farmers for a better living.

Last year, we distributed 4 high-quality piglets to 2 farmers groups in Bujwahya and Mbaraara villages The piglets were handed over to 4 women of these groups who will take care of the piglets and when they produce, their off springs will be given to other members of the groups in a system known as the Pay-It-Forward System.

Now the pigs have grown up and 2 out 4 pigs have conceived, expecting to produce in June or July 2026. The sows have no interest for boars, the teats are enlarging, they have less appetite, their abdomen are enlarging and they are calm. We are hoping that the remaining 2 sows will also conceive since they started heat period last month.

We are optimic that this project is expand in a short period and farmers will benefit from it.