Headman Marko Ruwangwe of Utsinda village said piggery projects had become a source of livelihood for most households in his area.

He said villagers preferred pig rearing because they bred faster.

A pig usually gives birth to between seven and 12 piglets thrice a year.

"There have been perennial droughts in some villages here, which have seen people diversifying their business ventures to sustain themselves," he said.

"It is easy for villagers to raise pigs because they use natural feeds."

However, most villagers buy supplementary food from shops for the pigs to grow well and attract reasonable prices on the market.

Pork is proving popular in the area because of the spiralling prices of beef in the country due to the shrinking national herd.