Livelihood Security through livestock based farming system for small land holders in Barabanki district of Uttar Pradesh

Under the NAIP-3 (ICAR) project, Trivediganj block of Barabanki district, was selected due to severe poverty, lack of livelihood opportunities, low productivity of main crops (wheat and paddy) and majority of population being landless (31.05%) or marginal farmers (42.11%). Farmers were promoted for livelihood on their liking and choices.

Shri Ram Kumar Singh of Dowdpur village is representative of those small land holding farmers who preferred livestock based farming system as lead component in their livelihood. He was having 7 bovines with average milk production per day 15 lit. ( range 7-30 lit), growing vegetables for own  consumption equivalent to Rs.2500/= per annum and 0.6 ha land for wheat and paddy cycle fetching nearly Rs. 20000/= per annum for family consumption as well as selling for other household needs, inputs etc. His total estimated annual income was approximately Rs. 40000/= as per his own statement.

In July, 2009, the NAIP-3 (ICAR) project intervention came to his rescue. The cereal production increased by 20-30% due to integrated approach. He sold off-season vegetables fetching Rs. 39400/= and fruits Rs. 8225/=. He started rural poultry production and sold worth  Rs. 18800/= and apiculture unit produced honey of Rs. 4200/=. He is producing in-situ vermicompost for use in his own field as well as selling, biopesticides, biofertilizers, biodynamic preparations. However, his main thrust was on dairy. With the revenue generated he purchased 3 more cows and learned how to synchronize estrous and bringing calving interval to about 12-14 months.

The major problem of prolonged calving interval, poor growth rate of calves, delayed estrous, repeat breeding problems, A.I. failure etc. are not now a challenge for him, (says elated Ram Kumar Singh) due to capacity building done in the village itself. He is taking 40 lit milk per day which fluctuated between 10-50 lit. /day. He has transplanted high yielding perennial fodder in 0.2 ha (CO-3 variety). He renovated the animal shed by investing Rs. 12000/- and his house by Rs. 18000/=. He also started one goat unit of Sirohi breed and local goats. He narrated that his estimates annual income is crossing Rs. 1.5 lakhs and by end of 2011 may cross Rs. 2.50 lakhs and has sustainable livelihood. This is the story of such farmers in the are

(Source :R.B.Rai Consortium P.I. email:  drrbrai@yahoo.co.in )