Category Archives: livestock

Heifer increases goat productivity in Nepal

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In January Heifer launched its dream project for Nepal, Strengthening Livestock Value Chain (SLVC). Its goals are to increase meat and milk production to substitute current imports and create a unique value chain for meat and milk that incorporates smallholder farmers not only in the production phase but also in marketing it. But there was a glitch. Over the years degradation of genetic merit in goats resulted in lower levels of productivity. In layman’s terms, they had fewer babies who did not grow as well and farmers could not sell them for good prices.

Farmers of Ladavir in the Sindhuli district in eastern foothills of Nepal are a part of a unique classroom under the Community Initiative for Genetic Improvement in Goats (CIGIG). Here they learn about how to improve production of goats through selective breeding. These farmers are not new to rearing goats but what they learn in this classroom will teach them to do so in a more scientific way through observation and intervention. To put it simply, it’s the Mendel’s Law in action. A pool of healthy genetically superior does and bucks will be produced by the end of the project and will be marketed across communities around the country to in-turn increase their production. Ladavir will be a training ground and resource village for genetically superior high productivity goats.

Heifer’s work around the world is not just limited giving animals and agricultural inputs if farmers but also extends to doing what needs to be done to bridge the gaps between the present that the future that Heifer envisioned together with the families it works with. CIGIG is one such initiative.

Participants of the first CIGIG class mull over a poster that depicts how to select a good male and female goat from physical traits for breeding.

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Coming To A Mailbox Near You

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It’s that time again. The latest edition of World Ark should be hitting mailboxes around the country.

The August issue is chock-full of interesting facts and figures, gorgeous photography and an article all about grasscutters. Don’t know what a grasscutter is? Check out the story about the new livestock that is making farmers in Ghana very successful.

Or dive into one of our Heifergraphics on water usage. You might be surprised to know that it takes A LOT more water to brew a gallon of coffee than it does to brew a gallon of tea, for example.

You can also visit the highlands of Peru through this issue. Writer Brooke Edwards tells how Heifer has helped diversify the alpaca population in the Andean mountains aided by some stunning photography by Dave Anderson.

So be on the lookout for your copy. If you don’t get World Ark in the mail, never fear! Our online page-turner edition can be accessed with the click of your mouse.

Happy reading!

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Heifer CEO in Nepal: First Steps into Sustainability

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On his first day in Nepal, Heifer International President and CEO Pierre Ferrari found himself among a group of withdrawn yet excited women in an unused classroom in the village of Kabilash in Chitwan district, a jostling 45-minute drive uphill on a dirt track that was patched up from recent landslides especially for his visit. The ethnic tribal women spoke of the challenges of and their aspirations for Heifer’s signature project, of which they were going to be a part. This was a first for Ferrari. Having traveled through Nepal in February 2011 and having heard about the country’s achievements in implementing transformational projects ever since he joined Heifer, Ferrari was more accustomed to strong women displaying confidence. “It validated the time and money we put into trainings to build the social capital to strengthen and transform women,” said Ferrari.

The women in Kabilash are part of a groundbreaking effort in Nepal that will scale up Heifer’s work to end poverty and hunger by increasing goat and milk production by helping women farmers increase production and enabling them to take part in the value chain through cooperatives formed and led by women. The overarching goal of the project, reducing importation of live goats and milk, will increase income for smallholder farmers through increased production and participation in the value chain, which will ensure that they get a fair share of the profits.

Heifer’s plan in this beautiful but resource-poor community is to establish sustainable partnerships with the local government, which is a co-funder of the project. “Our five-year plan consists of improving livestock and agriculture to help the people of this village escape poverty,” said Village Development Committee Secretary Pradhumna Khadka. “So when Heifer came to me with an opportunity to partner, I accepted it without any reservations.”

This is a partnership that works for all. Because after Heifer completes its work in Kabilash, it can be assured that the impacts will be exponential. “By this time, Heifer will have strengthened the farmers, the cooperative they form, and the agents of development, the government organizations, who are there to stay,” said Parbati Rawal, executive director of SRAM, a Heifer local partner NGO that will implement the project in Kabilash.

Heifer Nepal is geared up to implement similar projects in 28 districts of Nepal in the next five—an ambitious plan that has already been able to seek support in forms of resource leverage and collaborative partnerships from the national and local government and other development agencies.

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Why Water Buffalo?

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It is truly astounding how each gift of livestock can change the lives of Heifer participants all around the world. I’ve seen it each time I’ve traveled for work. But I’ve never been more impressed than when I saw some water buffalo projects on my trip to Cambodia in 2010.

San Pheap, 12, Sok Phong, 7, and Sieng Hai, 6, on a water buffalo in Chrey Krem, Cambodia.

Imposing creatures to be sure, water buffalo are actually quite gentle and patient (as you can see from the photo above as this animal allowed three little boys to ride on her back).  It was really fun to watch Seng Ouy bathe his family’s water buffalo. The animal’s reaction to the bath reminded me a lot of what my basset hound looks like when I put him in the tub to wash him down.

Water buffalo are prized in Cambodia. Often too expensive for smallholder farmers to purchase on their own, water buffalo often serve as “living tractors” for farming families in Southeast Asia. The draft animals can help families plant up to five times more crops than they would be able to plant by hand.  And rice planting is backbreaking work.

water buffalo bath

Seng Ouy, 19, washes the family's water buffalo.

The gentle giants also provide families with milk rich in calcium and protein that can transform malnourished children. Plus, the fats in buffalo milk make it ideal for processing into cheeses that also help build strong bones.

Another benefit families see from water buffalo is manure. Adult water buffalo produce about six tons of manure a year, and for families that have biogas digesters, that manure provides precious methane to power cook stoves and lamps.

Give the gift of a water buffalo today. You’ll be providing a family with a valuable tool that will give them plenty in return.

This post is part of our What to Give series, where we’re helping you choose the best Heifer gift for your loved ones. Read previous What to Give posts here, and subscribe to the What to Give series here.

Still don’t know what to give? Check out our entire online Gift Catalog.

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Follow me to the Philippines

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Next Wednesday, January 23, I’ll be departing for the Philippines. Like we told you last month, I’ll be traveling there to report on the rebuilding efforts after the damage caused by Typhoon Bopha last month.

Photo By Nacho Hernandez

I’ll be going to to Sta. Josefa where at least 366 families in two projects were significantly affected, with homes damaged or destroyed. More than 250 pigs were lost, as well as 90 goats. Rice, corn and banana crops were significantly damaged, and initial estimates from Heifer communities place damages at $550,000.

I hope you’ll check back in on the blog periodically, as I intend (depending on connectivity) to blog while there about the families affected by the typhoon and also about Heifer’s Community Managed Disaster Risk Reduction program, which helped our project participants prepare for the typhoon.

In the meantime, you can give to Heifer’s Disaster Rehabilitation Fund. While Heifer is not a first responder, as part of our program work, we help our at-risk communities prepare for the potential impact of disasters.  Even so, natural disasters often overwhelm a community’s ability to respond. Our Disaster Rehabilitation Fund is a pool of money that can be accessed by country offices affected by disasters that exceed their ability to cope.

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Former Ugandan IDPs Reclaim Lives on the Farm

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Heifer Uganda’s office in Gulu, Uganda.

Editor’s Note: I believe, at this point, it is impossible to be an organization with field operations in Uganda to avoid discussing our work in that country and our role in helping rehabilitate families affected by the conflict between the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), Allied Democratic Forces–both insurgent groups–and the Ugandan government. Over the next several days, we’ll talk here about our work with families in northern Uganda and share stories from families who have gone from being victims of the conflict to thriving in what is actually a very fertile part of the world.


Original story by freelance writer Christian DeVries. Photos by Russell Powell, courtesy of Heifer International.


Coo Pe is a small village in Gulu district in northern Uganda. Today, Coo Pe has a population of only a couple thousand people, but during years of conflict (1986-2008), the population was as high as 62,000.

At the beginning of the war, this area had no name, and there were only a few families living in scattered huts. When rebels came to “recruit” men from this area, the women would tell them “Coo pe,” which means “No men,” and so their village was named. Later, Coo Pe became an internally displaced persons (IDP) camp.

Mrs. Lawac Florence (25) was only 7 years old when her father was killed by rebels for no reason other than he was a man. when her mother died of cancer a few years later, Florence went to live with her uncle, who was later also killed by rebels.

In 1998, she moved to Coo Pe. She had no one to pay her school fees, and no school to attend anyway, so her education ended in Primary 6 when she was 12. She spent the next eight years living in the IDP camp. “Life in the camp was not easy,” said Florence. But she made friends and even met her husband. In January 2001, Florence and Mr. Otema Fred (27) were married.

Fred was also 12 when his family moved to Coo Pe. The rebels had raided his village and burned his family’s house. During the raid, his uncle was killed, and Fred was shot in the leg and back. He spent the next month in a hospital recuperating before moving to Coo Pe. His older brother was taken by the rebels and forced into service for two years. Even after the raid, his family didn’t want to leave their farm. They tried sleeping in the forest and working the land, but it was too dangerous. When they fled to the camp, they took only the clothes on their backs, a few pots and pans, and blankets.

“We lived in that camp for 10 years, and it was not easy,” Fred said. Even after moving to the IDP camp, Florence and Fred didn’t feel safe. The rebels frequently raided Coo Pe and the surrounding area. They abducted children, burned and looted, and took any food they found. In Coo Pe alone, they kidnapped around 5,000 children between the ages of 9 and 15. “They said that those age groups were easy to indoctrinate and wouldn’t be as likely to escape,” Fred said.

Soon after they were married, Florence gave birth to their first child. “Raising children was difficult. Sometimes food aid was delayed,” she said. Aid workers provided them with beans and maize, but it was only enough for them to eat once per day.

Florence and Fred now have three children, and Fred’s younger brother also lives with them.

Peace talks began in 2006, and although the war was still going on, Florence and Fred were among the first group of people to risk leaving the camp. Fred felt that they had no choice. They needed to feed their children.

They moved back to Fred’s parents’ land, but had to completely restart the farm. “We didn’t have anything when we moved back here,” said Fred. The huts had been burned, there were dead bodies and bones form the fighting, the land was overgrown. But worst of all, they had to clear landmines before they could begin planting. They began by planting cassava, maize, beans and sweet potatoes, but farming wasn’t easy.

Fred didn’t know much about farming, so things were only slightly better living outside the camp. “When we moved to the camp, I was still a young boy. I was still learning how to farm, so my knowledge of farming was interrupted,” he said. Fred struggled to pay school fees and medical bills for his family. “They would fall sick quite often,” he said. Food was always scarce. “Even buying them clothing was very difficult,” Fred added.

Twice a day they could eat vegetables and beans, and three times per month they had a little meat, but these meals weren’t balanced, and it was never enough. It seemed like they were always hungry. “If you visited us before, you would have seen the children dressed in rags and crying for food,” said Fred.

Florence and Fred’s oldest daughter feeds the family cow, Flora.

On April 23, 2010, Florence and Fred received a Frisian heifer from Heifer International. They decided to name her Flora, after Florence. Since her arrival, Flora has produced two bull calves and lots of milk. “Before, my children didn’t even know what milk looked like,” said Florence. “This cow has made my family happy.” When the bulls are old enough, they will be sold, and the money will be used to buy a heifer that can be passed on to another family. In addition to the heifer, their family also received cement, seeds and medicine for tick control.

As part of the Heifer project, Fred participated in a variety of trainings, including livestock management, environmental protection, soil and water conservation, gender and HIV/AIDS awareness, vegetable growing, hygiene, and Heifer’s 12 Cornerstones. While Fred doesn’t have a favorite Cornerstone, he is a big believer in Passing on the Gift. “The first step in Passing on the Gift is passing on your knowledge to someone else. Your neighbor needs to have the knowledge that you have acquired so their life can also be changed,” he said.

Before participating in the project, Fred and Florence owned no animals. Now they have 31 animals (one cow, one bull, one local cow, three goats and 25 chickens) and lots of manure. “The manure has helped me in my vegetable garden and on my fruit trees,” said Fred. The orange and mango trees Fred planted were barely growing and produced no fruit until he started using manure, and they have tripled their onion harvest.

Florence and Fred pose with their three children.
Florence and her son work in the family garden picking okra.

Now they are able to grow a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, and they get lots of protein from milk, beans and peanuts. They eat three meals per day, typically consisting of sweet potatoes and vegetables with milk. Eating properly has improved the children’s health. “The milk they are taking now is boosting their immune system,” said Florence. “The problem of malnutrition is no longer there,” said Fred.

The dramatic increase in their income has also been a large impact of the project. “This project has really helped to fight poverty in my family,” said Fred. Prior to the project, Fred worked as a laborer to earn money. “Before it was very challenging. My wife was always pushing me to find work and get money. It caused a lot of quarreling,” he said. Florence remembers how hard Fred worked to try and provide for his family, but “even clothing the family was difficult for him,” she said.

A full day of clearing land earned Fred only $1, and even that work was hard to find. In a good year, Fred earned a total of $116 working as a laborer and selling some maize and cassava.

Now, Fred earns $1,290 a year from selling milk. “There is now a very big milk market here,” he said. He grows and sells onions, maize, okra and eggplant. In total, Fred earns $1,566 per year. Florence is glad for their increased income. “He is not so stressed,” she said. “Now he is a happy man.”

Fred attaches a container to his bike to
transport his goods to market.

Florence and Fred have used this new income to pay for food, school fees for all of their children, to buy a bicycle, chairs, a local cow (for meat production), chickens and goats. Education is very important to Fred and Florence. “A person who is educated has a lot of information and can get a good job,” said Fred.

“I’m now trying to forget the past,” said Fred. “The worries and the pain we felt is going. The bitterness is gone.”

“I want to say thank you to Heifer, because your support has really helped me,” said Fred. “Your support has not been in vain.” Unfortunately, there are many more families who need Heifer’s help. “The people who were affected by the war are too many,” he said. “Heifer is currently able to help a small portion of the total number affected.” He added, “If there was more support, then more people could be helped out of this dire situation.”

In Fred’s opinion, when donors choose to support Heifer International, they are giving to a unique organization. “When I compare Heifer with other organizations, I see a very big difference in sustainability,” said Fred. “The people that Heifer trains can sustain themselves and become totally independent.”

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Irish Heifers Given to Romanian Women on International Women’s Day

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Editor’s note: We received the following update from Heifer Romania’s Communication and PR Coordinator Laura Manciu on the Irish-bred heifers that flew to Romania to improve the lives of families and communities. Photos by Heifer Romania staff. Read previous posts about these heifers here.

Irish heifers grazing on Romanian hay.

Of the 66 Irish heifers that landed one month ago in Romania, 45 were distributed yesterday for International women’s Day as Heifer gifts to 45 women from Rasca, Cluj County. More than 300 people took part in the celebration.

This original placement ceremony proved to be very special for our women beneficiaries and is part of the Milk for Orphans Project. One cow gave birth the day before the event, and the calf was also brought safely. Each family also received 110 pounds of nutritional supplements to help the animals adapt better and faster to the region’s climatic conditions.

The springtime gifts of Holstein Frisian breed heifers were offered by Heifer International and Bothar Ireland. The Senior Director of Strategy of Bothar, Peter Ireton, attended the event together with the beneficiary families, Heifer Romania team and many other guests.

“It is a pleasure to work again with the Heifer Romania team, which proved once more their professionalism and dedication for social projects,” said Ireton.

His Excellency, Oliver Grogan, the Ambassador of Ireland in Romania, also took part in the ceremony, thanking Heifer Romania and Bothar for their support and encouraging the project participants to follow this path and make this project a great success. He wished to meet personally some of the families and visited them at home.

His Excellency said:

For Ireland and me, it is a great honor to be invited to this celebration where Irish heifers are offered as gifts to women in Rasca. I want to believe that these cows will keep a small part of their Irish heritage. These volunteer activities continue a longtime tradition, which started more than 20 years ago by a few families. Irish farmers are filled with a sense of pride when donating animals, feeling highlighted by the fact that some years ago they were just as poor. I am convinced that the farmers that provided the animals would be very happy to know their cows are in very good hands.

The purebred cows were airlifted from Ireland to Romania, as part of a social and food assurance program that assists farmer families and orphans. The heifers distributed are the second transport sent to Romania, through Bothar and Heifer International by Irish farmers. Since January 18, the heifers spent a month and a half in quarantine, and on International Women’s Day were given as gifts to female beneficiaries of Heifer International.

“I never believed that anyone would give me such a valuable gift. I will take good care of the heifer, and my family is happy to pass on the gift to another family, just as poor as us. I will help others just as I was aided and will donate milk to the orphan children,” said Livia Rosu, one of the recipients.

Media representatives were present, and the event had coverage at all levels. There was one TV channel that broadcasted the ceremony live. This project is already well known thanks to the first transport of airlifted heifers. Up to now, 91 heifers were distributed in Rasca, and the community is working hard to make this project successful.

During the event, the beneficiaries’ children delighted the crowd with traditional folkloric songs and dances.

Crowds gather to see the Irish heifers.
His Excellency, Oliver Grogan and Peter Ireton visit a beneficiary family.
His Excellency, Oliver Grogan, offering gifts to young artists who performed
Romanian folkloric dances
His Excellency, Oliver Grogan visiting the Tise family animal shelter.
His Excellency, Oliver Grogan, with new women project beneficiaries.
His Excellency, Oliver Grogan; Ioan Morar, the Mayor of Rasca;
Peter Ireton, Senior Director of Strategy of Bothar;
Ovidiu Spinu, Country Director of Heifer Romania;
Vasile Cozma, Vice Governor of Cluj County
Peter Ireton and His Excellency, Oliver Grogan, with some of the Romanian beneficiaries.

Heifer Romania Country Director Ovidiu Spinu said, “Part of the heifers that are already in their new homes have given birth to beautiful offspring. Their owners are pleased that the animals adapted very well and are much more productive than the local breeds. It was easy for the Irish Frisian to adapt to the conditions as Rasca, as previously these animals were kept outside, freely on pastures.”

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Goats for a Stronger Haiti

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From the sounds of it, Pierre and Oscar’s trip to visit our work in Haiti was quite the whirlwind. Photos by Dave Anderson, courtesy of Heifer International.
Cutting the ribbon at the grand opening of Tet Kole Goat Breeding Center in Montrouis.
Pierre with Rosnel Jean-Baptiste, General Coordinator of Tet Kole;
and Michel Chancy, Vice Minister of Agriculture and Animal Production.
A goat of the Tet Kole Goat Breeding Center.
Pierre Ferrari and Oscar Castaneda after the opening of the Tet Kole Goat Breeding Center.
Passing on the Gift of goats.
Project participant in Degand. She has a water cistern built in her house.
Recipient of four goats in Maniche.
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Massive Livestock Project Underway in Senegal

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A historic distribution of farm animals is happening right now in Senegal, over the course of severalmonths. It may be the largest animaldistribution in Heifer International’s 68-year history.

This remarkable video shows you some of the faces and voices of the people who will gain new independence with these animal gifts.

The distributionof sheep, goats and chickens will reach 5,500 families, and is part of a $40million new USAID Feed the Future project. The Yaajeende Agricultural Development Program comprises aconsortium of five organizations, including Heifer. Yaajeende means“abundance” or “prosperity” in the local Pulaar language, and reflects thegoals of the project: to improve the nutrition and income of one million individualsacross 60 regional communities.

FrancisBouba, Heifer Senegal country director, says it makes sense for various organizations with different expertise to join together in order to help many more families. “In terms of livestock, Heifer isthe lead in Senegal, which is why we were selected for this high-profile project.”

Heiferestimates that the increased economic activity resulting from the project willdouble the household incomes of farmer participants, which in turnwill substantially reduce the number of underweight children.

This projectis at the front edge of ambitious efforts by Heifer International to scale upits work fighting hunger and poverty across the globe. By the end of thefive-year Yaajeende project, in addition to thefirst families receiving animals and training from Heifer, thousands morewill benefit when those families Pass on the Gift of their livestock’soffspring.

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A Calf Pays for Schooling: Photo of the Week

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Kuala Trang Village, Indonesia: Ayun feeds his grandfather’s calf. The community gave the calf to his grandfather with the understanding that the proceeds would pay for Ayun’s schooling, as both of his parents were killed in the 2006 Tsunami. Ayun himself could not own the cow directly because he lost all his identity papers in the Tsunami and was too young.

Photo by Trevor Snapp, courtesy of Heifer International
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Celiot Charles and His Goats: Agents for Change

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Heifer’s Vice President of the Americas Program Oscar Castaneda is traveling in Haiti with CEO Pierre Ferrari. They have been visiting communities participating in Heifer’s Rural Entrepreneurs for Agricultural Cooperation (REACH) Project. Here is another account from Oscar.


History in Haiti tells of people moving from slavery into freedom, only to slip back into a different type of chains–harder to break, overbearing and longer-lasting–stronger, external and never-ending debt. The countryside with lush forests and productive lands became exposed hills and degraded soils. But the spirit of the Haitian people remains unbroken; Haitians are ready to work, happy to join and willing to support each other.

Celiot Charles and his goats.
Photo by Dave Anderson,
courtesy of Heifer International.

In isolated communities, change is happening. The recipe has basic ingredients: a family, a community organization, a committed supporter, hard work and a goat.

Celiot Charles from the community of Maniche received a module of four goats from Heifer, and he hopes to do as well by his neighbor. A goat will eat anything green and transform it into meat, manure, material, muscle, milk, money and a lot of motivation (all of Heifer’s 7 Ms). One goat is worth $75 and buys education for children, uniforms for school, and doctor’s visits and medicine. A goat is the best piggy bank in Maniche, Degand, Montrouise, Ivwa and many more villages in Haiti.

Project participants chop grass for goat fodder.
The true value of a goat goes way beyond $75, though; it has the potential to connect many additional links that a family in need would not normally have access to. Without support, poor families are often desperate, in a hurry and need money right away. Through Heifer’s REACH project, organizing goat production and adding feed production, processing and collective selling in the local markets, the added value of the goat stays in the community.

Goat breeding center in Degand.
In Degand, the brand new goat breeding center has the potential to generate up to $10,000 a year, which will pay for school teachers and improvements to the local school. This goat breeding center is social entrepreneurship at work. At the same time, a stronger network of collaboration is being casted. Harold Jolivard, the general coordinator of a local organization in Degand, has high hopes and dreams: that every child in school will have the best education and enjoy a great start to their lives. Jolivard had a captive audience in the Yvon Jerome, mayor of Carrefour (the largest city in the area), who attended the opening ceremony of the goat breeding center and recognized the center as a place of opportunities. He couldn’t believe that one goat, together with 59 more, could get him up into the hills to visit the community: this is the power exercised with the slender yet powerful muscles of a goat.

A goat eats everything that is green: simple grass and green leaves are transformed efficiently into high-quality milk and delicious meat. One hundred goats consequently can eat a hillside and become the biggest obstacle for the re-greening of rural Haiti. Heifer’s Cornerstone of Animal Well-Being and trainings in animal management is, therefore, of utmost importance. Keeping project goats in specific locations and feeding them with grass fodder (rather than having them graze) eliminates environmental problems, generates additional jobs and makes easily accessible high-value manure for organic fertilizer.
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Haitians Delighted with Heifer

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Heifer’s Vice President of the Americas Program Oscar Castaneda is traveling in Haiti with CEO Pierre Ferrari. Today they are attending the inauguration of a new goat breeding center, part of Heifer’s Rural Entrepreneurs for Agricultural Cooperation (REACH) Project. Here’s the first of Oscar’s accounts of this trip.

Rosnel Jean Baptiste, general coordinator of Tet Kole.

In Mountrouis, the members of Tet Kole and Peyizan Ayisen are celebrating the opening and dedication of a first-of-its-kind goat breeding center. According to Rosnel Jean Baptiste, general coordinator of the organization, this represents a great example of collaboration and the opportunity to ensure food security while reducing dependence of imported food.

“This breeding center will also help us to be more successful in improving other community needs like access to water,” Baptiste said.

With Heifer Haiti, they will continue planting trees and transforming the landscape. This model will be expanded to reach a larger impact on other places in Haiti.

A group of singers perform at the opening of the goat breeding center.
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Wild Birds Improve Georgian Households

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Story and photos by Marina Kazaryan, project assistant, Heifer Georgia.

Pheasants.
As the legend has it, in the 5th centuryA.D. King Vakhtang I Gorgasali was hunting in the woods, when his falcon caughta pheasant. Fighting in the air, both birds fell into a spring nearby and diedbecause the water was boiling hot. Astonished by such unusual naturalphenomenon, King Vakhtang ordered to build a town around the hot springs. Thisis how Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, came to life. Ever since, pheasants wereconsidered almost as a symbol. However today they are not as easily found inthe natural habitat. So much more curious it is to learn that in a village ofTeleti several kilometers away from Tbilisi there is a farm breeding the wildbirds.

The Laliashvilis family.
The Laliashvilis are a family of six: Tengiz (40),his wife Ekaterine (37), daughters Teona (18) and Nino (3), son Giorgi (5) andhis mother Zhenia (68). Today they are owners of a developing pheasant farm,being a part of Heifer project. The beginning wasn’t easy though.

Since early youth Tengiz prepared himself for amilitary career. He completed the obligatory military service at 18, and eversince has been in the army serving all around the country. “We wouldn’t see himfor years sometimes”, says his wife Ekaterine. In the last military conflict severalyears ago Tengiz was wounded in the region of heart and was released fromservice. It was then that he decided to start a pheasant farm.

Pheasant breeding is quite an innovative branch ofagriculture in Georgia, Tengiz had to study the habits of the birds, experimentwith food and propagation. But several species that he owned were not enoughfor full-fledged farming. Family’s scarce income which was received fromselling incubators of his own construction could not cover costs for forage andveterinary needs.

Pheasants in the volary.
When Tengiz learned about Heifer International’sactivities in Georgia, he immediately decided to join. Here, as in everythingelse, his wife whom he has known since school days stood by his side. WithHeifer’s assistance Tengiz established a Farmers’ Association. Five originalfamilies got 15 “families” of pheasants, each consisting of one male and threefemales, as well as forage and additional training. “In a short period of timeI became quite a celebrity”, says Tengiz laughing. “People would hear about apheasant farm and come to see it, first from the neighboring villages and thenfrom more distant regions”. Some came as tourists but many got interested inthis new field.

Tengiz near the incubator.
This year Tengiz has already started the firststage of giving away nestlings in the Pass on Gift tradition of Heifer, andmeanwhile he is already preparing the second generation of receiving families,provides them with training in pheasant breeding and helps building incubators.“It’s a new area and people are eager to get involved because it opens up newopportunities”, explains Tengiz. When correctly treated, pheasants grow quitelarge, have tasty meat and are profitable for sale. Tengiz already has severaloffers for purchase of pheasants. He also wants to prepare a certain part ofbirds for wild nature and release them into their natural environment to restoretheir traditionally large but today considerably decreased population.

Laliashvili’s elder daughter Teona became a studentof pharmaceutics last year, and their son Giorgi will go to school in theautumn. Their living standards have considerably improved, today they can allowthemselves heating and better products. The family has purchased a computerwhich is used for children’s education and for collecting more information onpheasants breeding and treatment. Tengiz built a complex of open-air cageswhere pheasant families can breed. In spring he plans to lay out a gardenaround the cages.

Tengiz with his children, taking care of the birds.
And it is not only economical conditions that haveimproved with the beginning of the project. “When I returned home after theinjury, poor income and unemployment were torturing me”, remembers Tengiz. “Istarted having serious psychological problems. Today I simply have no time for depression”.Everyone in the family have their part in the farm’s everyday life, from theyounger kids to the elderly granny who is very fond of their new inhabitants.Pheasant breeding consumes enough labour, keeping the entire family occupied.Birds must be fed, cages cleaned, eggs collected and you always have to keep aneye on new families to make sure the breeding goes the right way and does notspoil the pedigree.

“After all the difficulties we’ve been through,this farm returned Tengiz to the family”, says Ekaterine. “We will always be gratefulto Heifer International for giving us this opportunity to develop ourinitiative and making us even more united”.

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CEO Pierre Ferrari to Visit Haiti

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Heifer President and CEO Pierre Ferrari leaves for Haiti tomorrow to attend the opening of a new goat breeding center. Ferrari will be in Haiti from February 15-22 to preview Heifer Haiti’s new Rural Entrepreneurs for Agricultural Cooperation (REACH) Project. The $18.7 million project will target more than 20,000 families in Haiti, working with goats, cattle, poultry, pigs and other agricultural inputs. The project will focus on moving families from hunger to self-sufficiency and further into small business development.

The new goat breeding center will house about 100 animals, which will be used to fortify local goat sock. The center, administered by the farmers’ association Tet Kole, was built as part of Heifer’s umbrella project for earthquake recovery. In addition to producing animals, it will help train farmers in animal husbandry, business development and management. The center opening on February 16 is a model for other breeding centers that will be created under REACH.

The REACH project will create 150 goat- and pig-breeding centers to increase the supply of quality animals in specific regions of Haiti. At least on-third of the centers will be run by women (or women’s associations), as part of Heifer’s commitment to the empowerment of all small farmers, especially women.

In addition to inaugurating the new breeding center, Ferrari will visit projects, meet with government officials and other international organizations. He will be accompanied by Oscar Castaneda, vice president of Heifer’s Americas Program.

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