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: