The average life expectancy is 46.5 years and couples have 5 to 7 children, making it impossible to get financially ahead. This is why OBI is working with local groups to provide short-term loans for people to put it towards farm machinery, seed, soap making, drip irrigation kits for family gardens, as well as other community wide field projects. This is helping reduce off season famine in the event of disaster. Communal funds are made up of membership fees and in-kind contributions. In turn it is possible to help members during the off season by lending communal millet, with or without interest, depending on the situation.
Members then sell their stock and buy cereals in order to renew their stock.
It also is helping to teach rural women management and democratic leadership skills. Other agricultural projects also include the Decentralized Agricultural Loan Fund which is in ten different areas. Because poor farmers have difficulty in buying machinery, they contribute to a community fund made up of membership fees and produce from community fields. When a farmer requires a plough, he provides half of the needed money and then the communal funds supply the other half. All Rights Reserved.