Animals

The aim of distributing livestock through the programs of Oxfam Australia is about increasing the agricultural productivity and helping people to support themselves and earn an income. Oxfam Australia agriculture programs focus largely on the rural poor. In these communities, livestock equals transport, power, fertiliser and food. Apart from farming activities like ploughing, seeding, fertilising and weeding, livestock are useful for a range of off-farm operations such as carting, cutting and collecting water. Some animals also provide additional food sources - like eggs from chickens and milk from goats and buffalos.

The projects which involve animals cover a broad range of initiatives, including training families in how to care for them and other ways that families can benefit from their livestock, for example, to produce organic fertiliser or to start a small breeding program. Projects such as these also give communities the opportunity develop new skills such as learning how to get a fair deal when selling produce, knowing what their rights are and working together to get the best possible results.

All of the projects that involve animals focus on helping people to earn a living and work their way out of poverty. For example, in Africa we provide ducks and goats to families. The project also teaches people about animal care, market awareness and financial training.

In South East Asia, people receive their first pig or chicken from a friend or relative and our project focuses on animal care and small business training. While the project is aimed at young people, usually it is the whole family that benefits. People who have participated in the program in the past have reported that they have been able to keep their animals alive, and from the profits of their animal businesses have been able to improve the health and education of their families.

Some of the items which will help fund these types of projects include:

See also Income Generation