This year, summer seemed to come slowly in China's Sichuan Province. The weather remained like that of the early spring — more chilly rain and cloudy skies. After recently giving birth to a healthy baby girl, Pite Niuniu and Azhe Zuotu's family has grown to six members now: the couple and their four children. This Heifer China Liangshang project family will rely on a sow, five fattened pigs, one horse and six geese; potatoes, buckwheat, corn, kidney beans and some rice grown in the family's own paddy to support them with their day-to-day expenses as well as their children’s tuition.
Pete Niuniu’s wife, Azhe Zuotu, is the Heifer project Self-Help Group (SHG) member. In the past three months, she participated in all the trainings and community events, which included one swine raising technology training, one grass planting training and one HIV prevention training; two Heifer 12 Cornerstones trainings; one community trees planting event, one dancing event and six community hygiene events. Azhe Zuotu is becoming more confident and likely to talk with others.
The happiest thing in the past months is the sow giving birth to nine piglets. The family will raise the piglets to 2-3 months of age, then sell them in the market in order to earn extra income. The family is expecting a good market price, although they still need to spend some money for the piglets’ feed.
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. Read the previous posts about Pite Niuniu and his family here.
