A Woman Entrepreneur from Dry Zone: Case #2

Daw Win Tin's husband beamed when he heard her plan to get back the three acres of land that they mortgaged three years ago. Her plan was to sell the three pigs and piglets she owns for about 200,000 Kyats. She had invested in a pig raising business and expanded a salad shop with two subsequent loans from Pact's microfinance program. She explained to her husband that she would receive a third loan in the amount 40000 Kyats very soon and that she was also determined to apply for Pact's small enterprise development loan in the amount of 120,000 Kyats. This expected income would allow her to invest in pig raising again. In the meantime, the family could afford to get back their land and invest the remaining money in expanding the salad shop. She was convinced that the expanded salad shop would be able to sustain the family.

Daw Win Tin is a member of the Village Credit Organization #I in the Nat Kan village in Magway township. Before the microfinance program, Daw Win Tin struggled with her husband to meet the daily needs of her family of seven. She sold "Toe Hu Thote" (bean paste salad) "Pae Pyoke" (boiled beans), and husband U Myint Thein farmed their remaining two acres of land. Their five daughters either assisted their mother in the salad shop or worked as daily farm labors to earn additional income for the family.

After joining Pact/Myanmar Microfinance Project, Daw Win Tin received 10000 Kyats in her first loan in January 1999. She invested that money in the expansion of her salad shop by adding beetles, cheroots, cigarettes and some snacks. In December 1999 she received 20000 Kyats in a second loan. She further invested in expanding her shop and bought a piglet for 5500 Kyats. The pig subsequently gave birth to ten, eight and then five piglets. Daw Win Tin was determined to sell her pigs to get the cash necessary to get back their three acres of land, expand her salad shop, and renovate their thatched-roof dwelling.

As planned, Daw Win Tin got the third loan in the amount of 40000 Kyats in December 2001. She again expanded her shop to include household items. In May 2002, she received a small enterprise loan in the amount of 120000 Kyats and started a pig raising business again.

Now Daw Win Tin owns four pigs and seventeen piglets and a relatively large grocery shop. The pig business is worth more than 200,000 Kyats. She has started buying materials for the roofing of the family house. She still thinks about how to further expand her business. In the near future she plans to invest in pig feed distribution. As a livestock breeder herself, she is convinced she has a good understanding of the needs of livestock breeders in hers and the surrounding villages. She also plans to further expand her shop to sell everything a rural household might need. The following table shows the increase in Daw Win Tin family assets over the three years she has been with the microfinance program.