Rabbits help boost world's poorest income

A pioneering project to supply some of the world’s poorest farmers with rabbits to boost their income has been acclaimed as a w-hopping great success.

International development agency Plan came up with the idea with smallholders in Vietnam’s northern province of Phu Tho.

Rabbits are cost effective to feed, grow quickly, and breed, well, like rabbits – enabling farmers and their families to have a much faster financial return than they get with other livestock.

Phu Tho farmer Nguyen Dinh Hoi says: "My wife, four children and I earn a living mainly by raising chickens and pigs but we did not have enough money to raise many of them.

"We also don’t know how to prevent disease or how to take care of these animals so that they can grow fast.

"Some months ago, I was selected to take part in the rabbit breeding model. The knowledge that I have gained from the meetings I share with my family as we all take care of the rabbits.

"So far, we have done well and been able to increase our family income."

The project began in February, with 40 families taking part, all of whom were struggling to make a basic living.

They were given five rabbits of each sex, money for cages and for vaccinations. Plan has also supported training courses for all family members on the best ways to feed and care for the animals.

So far each household talking part has earned approximately an extra 2,000,000 Vietnam Dong (£70) – a significant amount in a country where about a fifth of people live on less than £1 a day.

In time they will be able to make much more, as the rabbits breed and are sold for their meat. The money means more children can be sent to school and contributes to food bills.

Plan UK chief executive Marie Staunton says: "Most importantly this is a sustainable solution, which increases families’ income whilst empowering them through increasing their skills and knowledge."

For more information visit http://www.plan-uk.org