Agri-Enterprise Project

The Agri-Enterprise Project is an initiative designed to use Muira Village Health Center’s available land to create a sustainable source of income for the clinic while also supporting the surrounding community. The project focuses on agriculture, poultry, and livestock, with the long-term goal of generating revenue that can help maintain and expand the clinic’s healthcare services.

Our agricultural plans include growing fruits such as passion fruit, pineapple, and avocado, as well as vegetables including spinach, dodo, borr, tomatoes, onions, and chilies. The project also includes raising chickens for eggs and meat, goats for meat and breeding, and eventually cattle for milk production.

Much of the basic infrastructure needed for the project, including fencing and access to land, was already available, allowing us to begin developing the project gradually. In addition to supporting the clinic financially, our vision is to create employment opportunities for local villagers by involving them in planting, animal care, harvesting, and other agricultural activities.

The poultry project began in February 2025 with the purchase of 10 chicks. By August 2025, the flock had begun producing eggs and successfully hatched 16 additional chicks. At the same time, we steadily expanded our goat herd by purchasing several goats each month. By August 2025, the herd had grown to 14 goats.

During 2026, the project continued to develop. The original group of male goats was sold, and we reinvested the proceeds into a breeding herd consisting of 10 female goats and one male. Since then, six kids have been born, and additional goats have been purchased, bringing the herd to approximately 25 goats.

To improve the living conditions and management of the herd, we also constructed an elevated goat house. The structure took approximately one month to complete and provides the goats with a cleaner, drier, and more protected environment. Raising the shelter above ground also helps with drainage and makes it easier to maintain sanitary conditions, particularly during periods of heavy rain. As we continue developing the goat program, we are also learning improved goat-raising and breeding practices from experienced breeders in California. Their guidance has helped us better understand areas such as feeding, housing, breeding, herd management, and preventative care. Applying this knowledge has been valuable as we work to strengthen the health and productivity of the herd.

The goat project has had setbacks as well. Unfortunately, the new breeding male died after developing goat polio. To keep the breeding program moving forward, we arranged to use a local male goat to breed with our females. Several of the females are now expected to give birth by the end of 2026. Experiences like these have reinforced the importance of veterinary care, close observation, proper nutrition, and continued learning as the project grows. Maintaining the herd requires consistent attention. Veterinary visits, routine deworming, and general health monitoring are especially important because many of the goats are Boer crosses and can require more care than local village breeds. Despite the challenges, the herd continues to grow and remains one of the most promising parts of the Agri-Enterprise Project.

The poultry project has faced greater challenges. Marek’s disease has been widespread in the surrounding area and has affected our flock as we attempted to expand. At times, increases in the number of chickens were followed by significant losses. Through improved management and closer monitoring, we have continued rebuilding the flock. As of August 2026, we have approximately 35 chickens, with a goal of reaching 100 chickens by the end of 2026.

Crop production has also faced challenges. Heavy rains, poor soil conditions, and other environmental factors have prevented the plantation from developing as quickly as we had hoped. Despite these setbacks, we remain committed to improving the land, learning from each growing season, and continuing to cultivate crops with the resources available to us.

The Agri-Enterprise Project remains an important part of Muira Village Health Center’s long-term vision for sustainability. As we continue to grow and strengthen our livestock, poultry, and agricultural programs, our goal is to gradually move toward greater self-sustainability. We understand that this will take time, continued investment, and learning along the way, but with steady growth, we believe the project can play an increasingly important role in supporting Muira Village Health Center for years to come.

If you would like to support this initiative, your donation can help us expand our herd, grow our poultry program, and strengthen our agricultural efforts. Every contribution, no matter the size, helps us move one step closer to our goal. Each additional goat, chicken, or investment in the farm helps us build a stronger and more sustainable future for Muira Village Health Center.