Although the prevention and treatment of disease comprise the main enterprise of KARUDEC, its programs encompassing animal husbandry, agriculture and education significantly enhance the well-being of the community.

More Than Food

Since its inception, the center has ventured into a number of farm projects with various degrees of success. Limiting factors included lack of funds, competing priorities, drought and civil unrest. More recently, the center has been in the process of rejuvenating and expanding these projects. They include a cow and goat dairy, a piggery, chicken hatchery, fish farm, an apiary and crop production. Once the construction of shelters, ponds, hives, pens and fencing are completed, agricultural plots prepared and the full compliment of animals, equipment and tools purchased, it is expected the farm, including labor, will be self-sustaining in one year.

Cost estimates indicate the farm projects will be profitable in 2 years. Not only will it provide milk, eggs, meat, fish, honey and crops at affordable prices, it will serve as a learning resource to improve farming practices in the area.