Overcoming Loss and Reaping a Successful Harvest

Posted on November 26, 2012 by Heifer China

In our last post about Chang Julan and her family, we told you about the significant setback suffered by these Heifer China project participants when seven of their sows became pregnant, but one of the sows had a difficult pregnancy and died, taking with her at least 10 unborn piglets.

In the months since then, the family’s sows had 40 piglets, and Chang Julan sold 11 porkers at a price of 6.4 RMB/jin (US $2.03/kg). This left the Changs with five porkers in their possession. Although the selling price was low, the Chang family was successfully supporting themselves and hadn’t lost any money. Recently the selling price went up to 7.5 RMB/jin (US $2.34/kg), so Ms. Chang decided to raise all 40 piglets for pork, calculating that she’d be able to accrue a fine profit.

Piglets on Chang Julan's family farm.

There have been a few changes to the Changs’ house since our last report: they used stone to fix up a pond and a clothes-washing platform. Running water and the solar water heater both have been installed and are used often. The bathroom and showers also are in good order and are rather convenient.

The Changs had a good corn harvest

This year the Changs planted 4 mu (about 6.5 acres) of paddy field, and Ms. Chang estimates they will be able to harvest 3,000 kg of rice. The Changs have already harvested their 3 mu (about 4.5 acres) of corn, which produced a total of 1,500 kilograms. To speed up the corn shucking process and increase efficiency, Ms. Chang bought an electric corn shucker for about US $32. The paddy fields had about one more week until harvest time, meaning the busiest season of the year was about to commence.

Chang Julan shares her plantation experience with a member of another village.

Chang Julan’s mother fell ill and was staying at the Longtan Township health center. Ms. Chang went to take care of her mother, which also delayed her harvesting progress by several days. In order to make the most of this busy rural season, Chang Julan went home and shucked corn into the night. Ms. Chang’s son started school in September, and the total tuition and living costs added up to more than 2,000 RMB (US $317.31). Her husband is currently working as a laborer.

On August 20 Ms. Chang and other members of the Mutual Cooperation Group were interviewed by fellow member An Xian. Then on August 26, she and 10 other members went to Yuanba District’s Dachao Township to participate in another interview.

Editor’s note: This post is part of a series that follows the progress of specific families, starting at the beginning of their work with Heifer. Our colleagues in the field have chosen one family in each region in the countries where we work and will bring us quarterly updates. You can read past posts about Chang Julan and her family here.

Heifer China Family Continues Improving Farm and Home

Posted on October 22, 2012 by Heifer China

In the time since our last post, Heifer China participant Chang Julan’s family suffered a loss of livestock. Seven sows all became pregnant, but in May one of the sows had a difficult pregnancy and died, taking with her at least 10 unborn piglets. Now Julan’s family only has six sows and eight young pigs for fattening. During these months they also bought 20 piglets since the selling price this year was relatively low. Ms. Chang also decided to continue to raise sows and to increase her flock of chickens.

Chang Julan's family's living room. Photo courtesy of Heifer China.

Although the whole house has yet to be whitewashed, the Chang family has completed their new kitchen along with the remainder of the renovations. They now have a hard stable floor and ceramic tiles beneath the stove. In April they installed a protective railing around the first floor windows and the second floor balcony. The family now also has running water and the ability to burn firewood, and the use of electric and biogas-fueled cooking. Ms. Chang is committed to environmental preservation, and in the future wants to focus more on the use of biogas.

Ms. Chang’s son, Yang Jiusong, has completed the High School-placement exam at the Northern Vocational Middle School in Guangyuan City, and is still at school preparing to take a computer aptitude exam. Ms. Chang’s husband, Yang Yongguang, works in Guangyuan City as a day-laborer, although both husband and wife are also busy clearing weeds from the cornfields.

Recently Chang Julan purchased a water tower in preparation for installing running water in the bathroom, so as to be able to better clean the toilet and to shower. She plans to install a solar heater. Ms. Chang has also bought two electric fans and a scale; the scale is for weighing pigs when she’s selling them, and for organizing the fodder by weight.

Chang Julan's happy family. Photo courtesy of Heifer China.

The entirety of the countryside was busy for a month, until early June when it all was finally over. In late Autumn the Chang family sowed over 1 mu (about 1.5 acres) of rapeseed, collecting more than 400 jin (440 pounds); sowed over 2 mu (about 3.25 acres) of wheat, collecting more than 1000 jin (1,102 pounds); irrigated 4 mu (about 6.5 acres) of paddies; and planted 2 mu (about 3.25 acres) of corn. Lastly, they also planted sweet potatoes, peanuts, red beans, green string beans, and cucumbers, along with other assorted vegetables.

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Heifer China Restores Hope in an Earthquake-Ravaged Village

Posted on July 30, 2012 by Heifer China

Three months have passed since our last update on Heifer China project participant Chang Julan and her family. They live in Fuxing Village — one of the Sichuan earthquake disaster areas. Since our last post, two of her sows got pregnant and one of which gave birth to four piglets in the first half of February 2012 and another 12 piglets in the second half. In these months, she planted cabbages, garlic, scallions and radishes, and she now raises chicken as well.

As planned, Chang Julan built her kitchen with the help of Heifer China self-help group (SHG) members. Now she can cook inside, though the cooking facilities are not yet fully equipped. In this spring festival of 2012, she and other SHG members conducted celebration activities and they also participated in the activity organized by the local township government. Their dance performance was highly complimented. In addition, Chang Julan spent about RMB 2000 Yuan buying a new refrigerator from Longtan Township and she said it would make it a lot easier to preserve food.

The New Kitchen

In February, her son Yang Jiusong transferred to a vocational school in Guangyuan city and studies computers; it will take him three years to graduate. This school will help him get a job if he successfully graduates.

Chang Julan and her parents

When it comes to the plan of 2012, Chang Julan said she would decorate the kitchen and purchase some cooking equipment. And soon enough, she will be busy as the season of planting and harvesting is approaching.

After the Quake: Chang Julan’s New Life in China

Posted on January 9, 2012 by Heifer International

Chang Julan and members of the Heifer China self-help group in Fuxing Village help rebuild homes after the Sichuan earthquake.

by Heifer China

Chang Julan, with four other family members, lives in Fuxing Village, Longtan Township, Lizhou District, China — one of the Sichuan earthquake disaster areas. In the process of rehabilitation, they reconstructed the family’s swine facility and rebuilt their house. The family was in debt. Her husband, Yang Yongguang, did odd jobs to support his family, and that’s the only income the family had. What’s worse, poor health had been a perennial problem for his parents. Poverty hit the family.

After joining a Heifer project, Chang Julan became a part of a self-help group and received four sows and some farming materials. Through the self-help group, Chang participated in activities, and learned Heifer’s concept and 12 Cornerstones. In the meantime, she joined Fuxing Village Pig Breeding Association, in which she acquired skills of pig breeding and upgraded her pig facility through trainings she received. In the past three months, she received 13,000 Yuan income through selling more than 20 piglets. Moreover, by growing seeds provided by Heifer China, she grew corn, rice, peanut, sweet potato on 6 mu land. She made a harvest of 1,000 kg of corn and 2,500 kg of rice in September this year. She also educated children to be self-reliant and sent her care to elders as required by Heifer’s 12 Cornerstones.

With the help of other group members, Chang built a new house in early 2011. In addition, the local agricultural bureau granted allowance to build a biogas unit, and the government funded a drinking water project to solve human and livestock water issue. This Heifer project not only raised her family’s income, but also provided her opportunities to take part in the self-help groups’ cultural activities. The community is getting more harmonious than before and her family is living a better life. Speaking of the future, Chang wishes her son would study harder and her parents would become healthier. She also looks forward to getting a better harvest, more pigs and income to pass on the gift to other farmers.

In the video below, Chang harvests sweet potatoes, walks us through her upgraded swine facility and demonstrates her new rice milling machine.

Editor’s note: This post is part of a new series that follows the progress of specific families, starting at the beginning of their work with Heifer. Initially, this series will focus on our programs in Asia/South Pacific, where our colleagues have chosen one family in each region in the countries where we work and will bring us quarterly updates.