Four pigs have transformed the life of Sankara Adama and his young family.
Previously the father-of-four from Burkina Faso relied on being a nightwatchman and doing a bit of market gardening to keep the wolf from the door.
Like many living in West Africa’s climate-challenged Sahel region, he knew all too well the difficulties of putting food on his family’s plates.
But Sankara is one of many who are experiencing food security for the first time with the support of Tearfund partner Christian Relief and Development Organisation (CREDO).
CREDO runs various agricultural schemes to help people become food self-sufficient.
Livestock loans
In the case of 32-year-old Sankara, who lives in Ouahigouya, help came in the form of a quartet of porkers.
With a loan from CREDO, he was able to buy the pigs. Three of them have been fattened up and sold on for a sizeable profit while the fourth, a sow, has delivered eight piglets.
The offspring will also be sold off in due course to repay the original loan from CREDO but already Sankara testifies that his situation has improved and he gives thanks for the transforming nature of the scheme.
`The project gives me a lot of support,’ said Sankara. `With the profits I’ve got, I’ve paid for food for my family, and paid for part of my children’s school fees.
`I have been able to care for my wife who was seriously ill without having to borrow money as I would have done had the project not enabled me to have these animals.
Real change
`The project had made a real change to my life in economic and social terms. I ask God to bless all the project staff and also the different financial partners.’
It’s a similar transforming story for mother-of-five Sarembe Odile.
She too has used a CREDO loan to farm pigs and has seen her profits steadily grow.
As well as money, she has won more respect from her husband as she is now able to support him in paying for the children’s schooling, healthcare, clothing and other day-to-day needs.
`This project has really improved my living conditions and is combating food shortages,’ said Sarembe. `Everything is coming together to get me out from under the yoke of poverty.
`For that, my sincere thanks to all those who are working for the progress of this project.’