Growing Hope in Action
The Burera Food Production and Educational Project continues to strengthen families and restore land through sustainable farming and pig-rearing initiatives that build both income and confidence.
Pig Pass-Forward Impact
In 2025, 20 vulnerable households received piglets, primarily widows and low-income families identified by local authorities. Through the pass-forward model, beneficiaries continue sharing piglets with neighbors — bringing the total to 90 piglets distributed across the community over five years.
This approach supports families through income generation and organic manure production, improving soil fertility, increasing crop yields, and strengthening food security.
Training & Skills Development
From January to September 2025, 771 smallholder farmers received training in sustainable practices such as crop rotation, composting, soil testing, water conservation, and climate-smart farming. These sessions help farmers improve productivity while caring for the land.
Michelle, Burera’s agronomist, also participated in an agroforestry workshop in Uganda, expanding her knowledge in sustainable land management and strengthening the training being shared with local farmers.
Pig Production & Community Livelihoods
Between January and September:
61 new piglets were born
28 pigs were passed forward (20 from ALARM and 8 from farmers)
25 pigs currently remain in the ALARM pen
This steady reproduction reflects the effectiveness of the program in supporting household economies and strengthening agricultural resilience.
Challenges Being Navigated
The pig enclosure is currently overcrowded and located on land reserved for tourism, creating pressure on animal welfare and productivity. During August and September, five piglets were lost due to limited space and competition during feeding. Even so, the project continues to operate with care and commitment while maintaining focus on community wellbeing and sustainability.
From piglets being shared with neighbor families to farmers applying new sustainable techniques, Burera’s work is a tangible picture of dignity, growth, and resilience taking root across the community.