NORMATIVE FRAMEWORK

TELEFOOD SPECIAL FUND PROJECT FORMAT

"Pig Keeping"

Target group
Primary beneficiaries should be groups consisting of the poorest households and women (especially widows and female-headed households), the disabled and/or schools.

Background and justification
These activities are seen as group or communal enterprises with the benefits shared amongst the individual members, and could be seen as contributing to the Community Fund.

These projects should also be seen as complementary to similar activities undertaken either by the Diversification Component of the SPFS, or other similar programmes, which would provide the necessary technical support and training (see Pre-requisites below).

The model described represents a module consisting of 4 breeding sows. In reality, the unit size could vary and/or a varying number of modules could be included in the project.

Pre-requisites
A number of pre-requisites must be satisfied before project assistance should be considered, namely:

• a local tradition of keeping and consuming pigs and their products;
  
• an understanding of the markets (inputs and outputs), feed requirements and the disease situation;
  
• a source of suitable and adapted breeding stock and sufficient locally available feed resources;
  
• a local willingness to participate in and contribute to the programme;
  
• an institution (government or NGO) capable of initiating and supervising the programme in project areas, as well as providing other essential inputs not covered by TeleFood;
  
• advisors/extension staff trained in pig production;
  
• functioning women's, producers or credit groups; and
  
• access to reliable supply feeds, drugs, vaccines and veterinary services.

Objectives
The aim of the project would be to establish a group pig raising enterprise aimed at a) providing either breeding or fattening stock to individual households and b) providing income though the sale of meat.

Duration of the project: 18 months.

Outputs (per Module)
A functioning pig unit, that, assuming reasonable standards of management, especially feeding and disease control, should produce 10-15 weaned pigs per sow per year. Allowing for replacements, this would mean 20-30 gilts and 20-30 fattening pig could be sold/distributed from the unit.

Activities
Activities will concentrate on establishing small-scale, communally-managed, pig raising enterprises. The project should provide assistance in the following areas:

• Housing: For example - a 4 x 20m timber framed, thatched roofed, pig house with a cement floor and an outside fenced exercise area. The building would be divided into two collective pens (4 x 5m each), two farrowing pens, a bull pen and small feed store. Feed and water troughs would be built in.
  
• Feed Supply: An initial supply of locally available crop and industrial by-products, roots and tubers, fodders (aquatic plants), oilseed cakes and household food waste.
  
• Stock Acquisition: Four in-pig gilts of adapted, locally available, breeds, and one boar.
  
• Animal Health: A comprehensive prophylactic programme, depending on local disease environment, that will could include vaccination against Hog Cholera, control of internal parasites (especially Taenia solium which causes cysticercosis in humans), and close attention to improved sanitation.

Linkages with other (FAO) projects
To be defined in each country.

Inputs (Summary of per Module)/Budget

Assumes a 3-4 breeding sow unit:

1/ A very broad assumption of 1.5t of compound feed/sow/year including allowances for creep feed and boar but not fattening.

In addition prophylactic vaccines and medicines will be supplied.

Monitoring and reporting
The national implementing agency will be responsible for providing FAO with quarterly and final reports in an agreed format. The FAO Representation will be responsible for monitoring the progress of the project and ensuring, through independent audit, that the funds are used correctly.

Risks
A number of risks are associated with the programme, namely:

• Disease causing either mortality or poor performance is a major risk and even low level of losses can seriously affect profitability.
  
• The success of the enterprise will be dependent on a regular supply of feed throughout the fattening period.
  
• To be sustainable, it is important that producers take full financial responsibility for the successive production cycles, once the benefits have been demonstrated and the units established, and do not become dependent on external assistance.