Impact on people and households
About 90% of all PIP farmers in the impact study affirm that they are more willing to stay in the village than 3 years ago. A similar percentage considers that living and farm conditions have improved after having created a PIP, with an income increase not only from cash crops but also from off-farm activities and entrepreneurial initiatives. Furthermore, PIP farmers explain in testimonies that due to their new spirit to develop and invest in their future, they have better access to financial capital (credits). The assessment of farmers’ recent investments shows that the 1st generation is most successful in generating more income. However, also other PIP generations improve their living conditions, as this 2nd generation PIP farmer explains:
Currently in my household, following a good climate of understanding between my wife and children, with the creation of our PIP we are very healthy. We produce enough, we eat to our satisfaction with variations […]. The school fees of 5 children and health care expenses for all members of my family are covered. We live in a house of which I have renewed the roof with 30 metal sheets purchased from the income generated by agriculture and savings groups.”
Results furthermore show that PIP households are considerably more food secure than non-PIP farmers in the months after the important bean-producing season (July-September), and are able to keep their stock of produce for a longer period. Non-PIP farmers are back on the food security level of “we can just manage” already in September, while half of the PIP farmers remains until December on the level of “we have enough to eat”. The flywheel effect of working with PIP and becoming more food secure, also through new off-farm activities, is testified by this 3rd generation female PIP farmer: