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| Agricultural training is one of the most effective means of increasing a family's income in rural Rwanda. |
“My life has changed because I am making more money!” -Consessa
Before receiving FH Rwanda support Consessa's family were low-income farmers. At 52 years of age, Consessa was the mother of nine children—six boys and three girls. While six of her children are now adults, she still has three kids living at home.
In spite of their hard work, her family struggled to earn a living off the land. The harvest was always too small. There wasn't enough left over to bring in significant income to pay for basic necessities like health insurance or school materials for her children.
In 2012, however, Consessa participated in an FH training on agricultural best practices and how to establish a kitchen garden. As she faithfully applied these newly acquired skills, Consessa saw her harvests begin to increase. Soon she was producing enough vegetables to sell a significant amount in the market, raising their family income.
Consessa now harvests 10 basins of carrots per season and sells them each for 4,000 RWF ($10 CAD) for a total of 40,000 Rwf ($60 CAD) from just one small plot. In addition, she grows at least 32 pumpkins per season. At 2,000 Rwf per pumpkin, Consessa brings in 64,000 from her pumpkins. Her total seasonal income is now 104,000 Rwf ($160 CAD).
Consessa says this income enables her to easily pay for health insurance for the whole family. Having tasted this level of success, she's not satisfied with just gardening. Consessa has a vision for expansion. She's already bought two cows, four goats, and one pig with the income from her vegetable sales.
In Consessa's view, her family now lacks for nothing. They have plenty of food and her children are always well dressed. All this a result of her farming efforts.
“Life has positively changed in my family, and I’m so thankful to FH Rwanda! FH is a blessing to me and my family." -Consessa
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| Consessa and her sons harvesting ginormous carrots! |
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