Milk Maids

Nandargi is a remote village in Indi taluk of Vijayapur or Bijapur district in Karnataka, one of the most historically significant districts in the state. It is located near the Maharashtra border with a population of 3018 consisting 1511 male & 1507 female and total 605 households. The major occupation is rain fed agriculture and the main crops are Jowar, Bajra and Green gram. Dairy is a traditional supplementary activity of the households as in general each household has at least one milch animal. It was a good starting point for selection of the activity.

Activity

Dairying being a traditional activity, an LEDP on Dairy was sanctioned to Community Resource Development Society (CRDS), an SHPI for 60 matured SHG members for a financial outlay of Rs.1.76 lakh.

Nature of Intervention

A training on “Dairy Farming ” was conducted in 2 batches, each of 7 days duration, for 60 SHG members @ 30 members per batch followed by refresher training of 2 days each and this enabled all the members to avail loan. Resource Persons from RUDSETI were invited and Technical sessions were handed by BIMUL/ Veterinary Doctors. Tie up arrangement was made with local market for supply of fodder, feed, etc. Collection of Milk is done by the Milk Society in the Taluk. Vijayapur DCCB sanctioned a loan of Rs.40,000/animal/borrower for all 60 members amounting Rs.21.20 lakh. The loan was sanctioned only to those members who were having at least one cow/buffalo with them and practicing dairy.

The Impact

Income enhanced by Rs.2500/- to Rs.3000/- per month

The Milk Society in their area which was on the verge of closure got a second lease of life with increase in milk collection from 525 litre/day to 1100 litre/ day and now getting profit of Rs.1.5 lakh/year. Milk availability in the village increased and by-product entrepreneurship is picking up. The village economy has turned around.

Critical Determinants

• Coordination with line departments for purchase of quality animals and supply of fodder, etc.
• Revival of milk societies and tie-up with shops, milk booths for selling milk and by-products 

Source : Creating Livelihoods, Changing Lives