October 1998

31st October 1998

Women's Rural Credit Scheme

Repayments in Juetuo Village: The ninety-five women in Juetuo Village who took out loans through DORS women's rural credit scheme made their first repayments earlier this month. The first of two sixth monthly repayments was due on 5th October, so far over 94% of the due amount has been collected.

Final payments in Sugu 4 and 5 Hamlets: The final monthly rural credit repayments in Sugu 4 and 5 hamlets have been paid in full by every woman. The thirty women in hamlets 4 and 5 were the first to be loaned to in DORS rural credit scheme. DORS are conducting a follow-up study in the villages to assess the impact of the scheme on participating households.

'New Rice' in Banyang Hamlet 8

One family in Banyang Village Hamlet 8 invited us to eat the 'new rice' with them. 'New Rice' refers to the newly harvested rice, the first tasting of the season's rice. However, this is the first rice ever harvested in Banyang Hamlet 8. The new crop was made possible with DORS British Chamber of Commerce supported project bringing irrigation water across the Dadu River in a suspended pipe. The villagers plan to build more terraces over the winter months to expand the irrigated area in the village.

New Quick Response Micro-Project

A micro-hydro project has begun in Banyang Village Hamlet 4. The hamlet, which has never had electricity is the most remote of Banyang's hamlets - a two hour walk up the steep hillside from the Dadu River valley. There are nine households here, six of which expect to benefit from the project. The hamlet leader approached DORS with the idea of installing a 1.5kW electricity generator. The project was designed together with the County Agricultural Technology Bureau. The water resources of the hamlet are plentiful, and the hillside location suitable for this size generator. There will be a 200m channel and a 60 m pipe down the hillside giving a 40 m head. Total cost of the project is 8,000 RMB (approx. 600 GBP). All of the children in this hamlet are supported by DORS education project, and loans have been made to six women through the Women's Rural Credit Scheme.