A music group from Katobo in Rukungiri District totally pivoted from performing to pig farming. They got seed funding and training from the Microfinance Support Centre, or MSC, in partnership with the Rukungiri Producer Cooperative Union. The group, now called the Katobo Dairy Farm and Piggery Project and led by chairperson Aggrey Turyazayo, was trained by Dr. Sam Akankwasa. They started with six pigs provided by MSC.
That initial stock of six animals has ballooned to forty pigs today. Members learned to cut costs by making their own feed from local materials like Napier grass. The project’s benefits extended beyond just selling pigs, with manure boosting their other crops, and profits helping pay for things like school fees and cows. The secretary general, Resty Kemigisha, highlighted how this empowered women in the group, specifically, giving them financial independence.
They still face issues, mainly expensive feed and transport costs. The pigs are breeding quickly, creating a need for a bigger farm. The group has even used their old musical skills to sing thanks to their supporters. Their story shows how targeted aid and practical training can completely change a community's livelihood.
That initial stock of six animals has ballooned to forty pigs today. Members learned to cut costs by making their own feed from local materials like Napier grass. The project’s benefits extended beyond just selling pigs, with manure boosting their other crops, and profits helping pay for things like school fees and cows. The secretary general, Resty Kemigisha, highlighted how this empowered women in the group, specifically, giving them financial independence.
They still face issues, mainly expensive feed and transport costs. The pigs are breeding quickly, creating a need for a bigger farm. The group has even used their old musical skills to sing thanks to their supporters. Their story shows how targeted aid and practical training can completely change a community's livelihood.
