b'Coming together allows you to think collectively and provide important advice to one another. It also gives us a platform to share lessons and best practices on livestock farming. BEATRICE MUSENGIMANAcrops before emulating it on theirrecalled. But after the training, Iand their families. Working together own farms. started growing fodder, and feedingincreases the farmers bargaining I learned how to take good care ofthe cows [with it] has led to anpower and allows them to better cows and because of that, my cowsincrease in milk production fromaccess critical financial tools like loans. are no longer dying, said Beatrice,3 liters to 7 liters per day.Having a support system in the who was also gifted a fodder choppingcommunity is also extremely valuable, machine through the project. BeforeThe Path to Prosperity said Beatrice.the training, I didnt know how toThe Abakundinka Livestock FarmerComing together allows you spot a sick cow but now I can easilyField School group was started byto think collectively and provide identify one and inform a veterinaryFidele Byampiriye, a communityimportant advice to one another, she doctor to come and treat it. facilitator trained by Heifer to leadsaid. It also gives us a platform to Her story is one of many. Pascalinechange in his community. Onceshare lessons and best practices on Uwera, a banana and dairy farmerFidele identified that cattle keeperslivestock farming.and mother of two, also knows howin the region lacked knowledge onHolding members accountable, it feels to struggle to make ends meet.animal health and nutrition, and wereand supporting them to improve, is Before connecting with Heifer andafflicted by high poverty rates, he feltkey to the groups mission. Beatrice joining the Abakundinka group,forming a farmers collective wouldand fellow members will regularly Pascaline frequently couldnt affordspur the kind of sustainable and far- visit each others farms to check on basic expenses, like health insurance,reaching development they needed.their livestock and offer advice for a balanced diet for her family, andThe group serves as a mechanismimproved practices if they notice tuition fees and school materials forto disseminate skills and trainingsomething is wrong.her children. so farmers can better manage theirAs word began to spread of the Maintaining my familys well- livestock and earn sustainablegroups success, its membership grew, being was the most difficult, sheincomes to provide for themselvesand they were able to open an HEIFER.ORG |13'