Livestock is integrated part of rural livelihood systems in India particularly for small and marginal farmers. Livestock plays very critical role in risk mitigation in addition to income source for rural people. In the regions where adequate land and water resources are available dairy has emerged as important income source for the farmers. Goat rearing and poultry are less input intensive hence suitable for farmers having low resource base. Over the period of time AKRSP(I) has worked with all three sector; goat rearing, dairy and poultry.
Goat rearing is practiced at large scale in Madhya Pradesh and Bihar. Generally most marginalized communities are engaged in this activity. AKRSP(I)'s goat rearing program has several key interventions leading to quantum jump in productivity and income levels.
Key elements of goat rearing program
Outcomes of Goat Rearing Program
Members of women Self-Help Groups (SHGs) in Madhya Pradesh have taken up poultry as an income generating activity. Tribal households are involved in poultry on a large scale. In Madhya Pradesh AKRSP(I) is working on both the models of poultry; improving existing backyard poultry and promoting commercial poultry as micro-enterprise.
Essential elements of our intervention
In addition to this, one pilot project is underway to develop a remunerable model for rearing of the indigenous poultry bird, Kadaknath.
Outcomes from Poultry Intervention
Our poultry program reach to over 1500 farmers mostly from tribal communities
Dairy emerged as a very important livelihood activity, especially in areas where irrigation areas has increased due to the constant efforts of government and other development agencies. Tribal regions and the Saurashtra region in Gujarat benefitted the most from this.
Our dairy program has benefitted over 5200 farmers, mostly in Gujarat.