Factors affecting the permanence of livestock projects undertaken by Heifer International-Mexico

Abstract

Heifer International-Mexico (HI-M), a hunger-relieving non-profit organization, collaborates with the Direccin̤ General de Educacin̤ Tecnolg̤ica Agropecuaria-Durango (DGETA) to establish livestock projects involving resource-poor families in the state of Durango, Mexico. This study identified and analyzed the factors affecting the permanence of hog and dairy cow projects in four communities in the state of Durango, Mexico. The researcher interviewed seven project managers and 35 beneficiaries to identify the factors affecting the permanence of livestock projects. From their responses, the researcher developed a list of 22 factors that promoted the permanence of the livestock projects. Key points included personal interaction between beneficiaries in the group(s) and project manager(s), knowledge and skills obtained from workshops, and household economics. The researcher developed a separate list of 20 factors that inhibited the permanence of the livestock projects. Key points included difficulties in livestock production and poor personal interaction and communication between beneficiaries and project managers. Two diagrams illustrate the commonalities and differences advocated by the two groups for both lists. Beneficiaries and project managers shared eight of the 14 factors advocated to promote the permanence of livestock projects. Beneficiaries had four factors unique to their group and the project managers had two factors unique to their group. Beneficiaries and project managers shared seven of the 13 factors advocated to inhibit the permanence of livestock projects. Four factors were unique to beneficiaries while two factors were unique to project managers. The researcher used a force field analysis based concept labeled the "line of permanence," to illustrate the factors affecting the permanence of HI-M's livestock projects in the communities. Community A was the only location where the interviewees identified more factors inhibiting the permanence of a livestock project. Community A was also the only community that no longer had animals HI-M donated to the community. In contrast to Community A, project managers and beneficiaries in Communities A, B, and C each identified more factors that promoted the permanence of the livestock projects. The author made recommendations based on the findings of the study for HI-M and DGETA to improve the manner by which they undertake livestock projects.