Introduction

In Tikamgarh district, although the populace of dairy cattle has been more than the human population, unscientific rearing of dairy cattle has resulted in poor productivity due to lack of green fodder, imbalanced feeding, lack of use of mineral mixture, not following vaccination schedules, infertility problems and poor health standards. The problem was confronted by the Sankalp Swashakti Mahila Mandal (SSMM), a federation of women SHGs facilitated by Development Alternatives (DA). SSMM did not have any knowledge regarding the scientific treatment of the stray cows which were placed in their Gaushala for breed improvement. Various discussions regarding the sustainability of the Gaushala and also the livestock development in nearby villages were a cause of concern. The various stakeholders identified for the purpose were DA, the Animal Husbandry department in Tikamgarh, Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Tikamgarh, and the Indian Grassland and Fodder Research Institute (IGFRI), Jhansi, which took a serious call and designed a project on livelihood opportunity through livestock development, sanctioned by the Department of Biotechnology, New Delhi. The identified stakeholders have taken up these issues and began creating awareness regarding the management of dairy units in 10 villages of Tikamgarh district.

Interventions So Far

During the first year of the project (2007) DA, along with the help of the stakeholders, selected ten villages with the highest cattle population, namely Rajpura, Bagan, Radhapur, Ladpura, Budera, Chandrvan, Gujarra Khurd, Tapariyan, Maharajpura and Majra of Niwari block of Tikamgarh district, to undertake the need-based interventions. The project is all about the cluster approach, from clusters to villages. A cluster is projected as a demonstration place of livestock-based livelihood activities, round the year green fodder production, waste management through vermi compost production, improved feed manger, bio gas for cooking as well as power generation and slurry which later becomes manure, selvi-pasture model, and commonly known as Farmers Field School (FFS). In this context 32 SHGs, and 10 Gram Vikas Samitis involving 416 women farmers were formed. For capacity building of these groups, 5 exposure visits to different dairy farms and research institutions were organised; 12 training-cum-workshop camps on dairy awareness and group formation were also a part of the activities within the project. The training programmes included:

• Green fodder production
• Animal health camps
• Vermi compost production
• Bio gas construction and utilisation

As a follow up of these training programmes, plans were made for its replication. For this purpose, 50 farmers in 10 villages were identified to take the lead for green fodder production, improved feed and waste management. The farmers identified for this purpose will also work through farmer-to-farmer extension for overall livestock development.

Future Plans

As a part of the future interventions planned in the area, more dairy farmers will be associated with the help of the farmer-to-farmer extension programme. They will be encouraged to prepare their own foodstock for animals using locally available ingredients. Formation of milk societies is also on the anvil for selling feed mineral mixture, as is setting up milk collection centres and marketing the milk on a participatory mode. Regular dairy training camps, health camps, exposure visits and milch cattle exhibitions will be organised to strengthen the farmer groups. The team is also looking towards an intensification of the farming system on a sustainable basis, which is planned for the near future. q
 

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