Cargill and China Women’s Development Foundation team up to boost productivity and income of hog farmers 

CHONGQING – Cargill and China Women’s Development Foundation (CWDF) jointly launched a training program today that is designed to improve productivity and boost incomes of small and midsized hog farmers.  The first training session will be held from May 18 to 19 in Chongqing and will be attended by nearly 100 hog farmers.

During the trainings, which brings together expertise from both Cargill and the animal nutrition industry, farmers will learn best practices in areas such as feed management, animal husbandry, bio-security practices, farm management, food safety and more. The Cargill team has targeted to help more than 300 households of Chongqing in the first year, selecting family farms with more than 30 sows across seven training sessions.

Cargill will also invest in the building of five to six “demonstration farms” that will receive farm upgrades free of charge. Cargill animal nutrition?? experts will also pay regular visits to the two farms to provide consulting and guidance in farm management best practices.

The event was hosted by Cargill Corporate Affairs Vice President Bruce Blakeman, who officially opened the training session with a brief ceremony.  He was joined by Mr. Liu Liangui, Deputy Director General from the National Animal Husbandry Station of the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, and Ms. Wang Yinxiang, Member of the National Committee of CPPCC, Vice President of CWDF.

This joint training program was launched at a time when China is gearing up its efforts in rejuvenating the rural areas and reducing poverty.  In this task, Chongqing, which is located in the mountainous areas of Southwestern China, is still facing many challenges.  Cargill will be investing nearly $150,000 in the pilot project’s first year. If the pilot is successful, Cargill and CWDF plan to expand to more farmers and provinces in the future.”

CWDF has partnered with Cargill to track outcomes of the trainings, conducting regular checkups with the farmers to determine the size of the farm, as well as any productivity and income growth related to the trainings. Many of the hog farms in Chongqing are managed by females, as it is common for men to leave their homes to find work in big cities. 

“It is our great pleasure to partner with CWDF in this important project.  CWDF has a robust network representing provinces down to the rural village level, and we will work closely together to make this project a success,” said Bruce Blakeman.

“In addition to helping farmers, this program supports the aims of the central government to increase agricultural productivity in rural areas. Initiatives such as the Rural Revitalization Strategy and the 2018 Agriculture Year of Quality plan, unveiled earlier this year, seek to support the development of large-, mid-, and small-scale farmers; Cargill is proud that our initiatives in China are so closely aligned with government priorities,” Mr. Blakeman added.

Mr. Liu Liangui, of the National Animal Husbandry Station of the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, noted: “We very much appreciate Cargill China and the CWDF’s support for rural revitalization through agricultural gains. As farmers face challenges including increasing costs and environmental restrictions, we welcome organizations such as Cargill and CWDF whose efforts help us with these aims.”

“CWDF is happy to partner with Cargill on this initiative. Our strong network, professionalism and expertise in rural China create added value as we work together to support the economic development of the countryside, and with a keen attention on the welfare of women and their families,” said Ms. Wang Yinxiang, Member of the National Committee of CPPCC, Vice President of CWDF.