Household rabbit farms provide faster income

In Vietnam’s northern province Phu Tho, Plan has been working in consultation with local farmers and organizations to come up with a new way of farming to increase income. Their unusual solution — rabbit farming.

Rabbits are cost effective to feed, they grow quickly, and they breed, well, like rabbits. Farmers and their families experience a much faster financial return breeding rabbits than other livestock.

So far results have been very good. As Nguyen Dinh Hoi, a farmer who is taking part explains:

“My family consists of my wife and four children. We earn a living mainly by raising chickens and pigs. However, we did not have enough money to raise many of them. We also do not know how to prevent disease or how to take care of these animals so that they can grow fast. Some months ago I was selected to take part in the rabbit breeding model. The knowledge that I have gained from the meetings I share with my family as we all take care of the rabbits. So far, we have done well and been able to increase our family income.”

The project began in February 2009 with 40 households taking part, all of which were struggling to make a basic living. They were all provided with five rabbits of each sex and money for cages and vaccinations. Plan has also supported training courses for all members of the households on the best ways to feed and care for the rabbits.

So far, in just the few months since the project began, each household taking part has earned approximately an extra 2,000,000 Vietnamese Dong (US$112). In time they'll be able to make more as the rabbits breed and are sold. With extra household income, families will be better able to afford to send their children to school and purchase nutritious food.

Most importantly, rabbit breeding is a sustainable solution that improves families’ incomes while simultaneously empowering them with increased skills and knowledge.

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