A PROJECT FOR MISSIONS-SUSTAINABILITY

As most of you already know, Michelle and I have been serving in the Philippines since 2003. We continue to have a deep desire to meet the needs of the Filipino people both spiritually and physically. For several years we worked among the poor in the Smoky Mountain garbage dump, starting several Bible study groups which eventually led to a church plant. After relocating many families out of the garbage, we have established His Mission Academy, a Christian elementary school for the children of those relocated families. Along with a team of dedicated Filipinos, we are now developing a rural missions base with livestock and farming projects that will benefit the families relocated out of the garbage dump and also those in the surrounding rural villages who desperately need agricultural training to help adequately sustain their families. Our farm will also serve as a prototype for training rural self-supporting Filipino ministers.

In a nutshell, the basic concept of our long-term plan is that we will breed pigs, and the sale of piglets and pork will provide ongoing funding for other livestock projects, such as raising goats, which would then provide free milk to help meet nutritional needs of the kids at His Mission Academy and the surrounding areas. Our farm is already providing jobs for around 15 people, and once the piggery is fully functional, the income it will generate will also help to pay for the salaries of the farm workers.

We have already invested around $1,500 of our own money into building the foundation for the piggery. The next step is building the metal sow cages and farrowing cages. While more expensive than concrete block cages, metal cages are longer lasting and not as harsh on the pigs’ skin (as rubbing on the concrete often causes skin abrasions). Sow cages will cost around $500 each, and farrowing cages between $150 to $200. We will be building 3 or 4 sow cages and around 30 farrowing cages. Total cost to finish building the piggery, including metal for all the cages, roofing and finishing material, labor costs, and the purchase of starter pigs will be around $10,000.

With 4 sows, our piggery will be able to turn out one litter of piglets each month. On average, there are 10 piglets in a litter, and they can be sold for $45 each when they are 1-month old. At a very minimum, the piggery will be able to generate $450 per month, and potentially much more than that as we will have the capacity to raise up some of the piglets in the fattening cages, thus selling them at a much higher price (around $150 each). This money will then go back into the cost of buying feeds for the pigs and into salaries for the farm workers. As we can further expand the piggery, income will also eventually be used to develop other livestock projects.

The Bottom Line

• 4 sow cages x $500 = $2,000
• 30 farrowing cages x P200 = $6,000
• 6 workers x $25 per week salary x 2 weeks building time = $300
• roofing and finishing material = $1,700