Project activities for the People's Participatory Poverty Reduction Model Project have been carried out since August 2006. In February 2007, Yukio Homma, Director, and Chihiro Uchiyama, Assistant Program Manager, China Program, JOICFP, monitored progress in the project areas of Daozhen and Leishan Counties, and made the activity plan for fiscal year 2007.

In addition, JOICFP attended the Joint Coordinating Council (JCC) in Guiyang on 12th Feb, along with NPFPC, JICA and other related organizations.

Family health activities

Community people have been raising their health consciousness in areas such as reproductive health, parasite control and hygiene. Furthermore, they are eager to learn and attend health training.

A rural woman who was provided pigs
through the project's revolving fund

Vigorous pigs provided through the project's revolving fund
in Daozhen County

Revolving fund

Although only three to four months have passed since the revolving fund started, some farmers are already making a profit through it from pig raising. Farmers in the two project counties have received regular technical training and support from Chinese experts, and they have held frequent meetings to share information.

Through activities like pig rearing, building bio-gas plants, etc, farmers are recognizing the importance of and effectiveness of self-organization.

As a result, the farmers are starting to develop a mutual spirit of cooperation, and it is expected this will help the farmers raise their standard of living and quality of life, and facilitate repayment of revolving funds.

A water buffalo provided through the revolving fund learns
how to pull a plough

Joint Coordinating Council

At the council meeting, representatives from the two project counties reported the effects and achievements of the project over the last six months, emphasizing that through technical training on family health care, IEC, and agricultural technology, county level administrative staff had learned a lot and had their technical skills improved.

They also confirmed the enthusiasm of the farmers to learn and participate in the project.

JCC members after the signing of the minutes

JICA representatives said that community people were understanding the importance of the participatory approach, such as taking responsibility for health checks themselves, and that an attitude of independence and self-reliance was developing.