As the head of my family of eight, charcoal burning is our main source of income. Yet, it is a tough business, especially during the rainy seasons when we have to stop operations. On those days, I take up casual jobs like weeding to earn $2, but it is barely enough for food. When I receive my transfers, I am planning to invest $300 in cultivating my 1-acre piece of land, which has been idle for over five years due to financial constraints. My goal is to provide food security for my family by shifting away from charcoal burning. I am excited about the prospect of achieving both food security and financial stability through agriculture.

As a family of eight, we depend on charcoal burning to earn a living and I am truly grateful for the charcoal harvest 2 weeks ago. Getting three bags instead of my usual one was a blessing. Selling them brought in $16.5, which means I can put food on the table for my family. Raising these children alone is tough, but moments like these remind me of the importance of hard work and resilience. It is a constant struggle, but seeing the results of my efforts makes it all worthwhile. I will keep pushing forward, knowing that every bit counts in providing for my family's needs.

It has been a tough journey for me lately. Five years ago, I inherited a piece of land from my parents, but I have never been able to cultivate it due to financial constraints. With seven children to support, I rely solely on charcoal burning to make ends meet. On a good month, I barely earn $50, which all goes towards putting food on the table. Sadly, there is never been any extra to save, let alone invest in farming inputs like seeds and fertilizers. It is disheartening that I cannot provide for my family through farming and instead have to depend on seasonal charcoal burning just to get by.