BLF has facilitated training of a handful of youth as barefoot veterinarians, particularly in Goat rearing. They have now formed into a team of experts to deal with animal Nutrition issues, health issues, breeding issues, housing issues and fodder issues, which is achieved through a comprehensive training undertaken at Shillong and Guwahati in collaboration with College of Veterinary Science at Khanapara and the Rural Resource and Training Centre, Umran. Having built up the expert team, it is now time to introduce goat farming in Nagaland to solve some of the livelihood problems.
A pilot project has been started with about hundred goats at Chungtor Village in Tuensang District in October-November 2009. The people are enthusiastic and eager about the prospects. The Pilot project, a prototype initiative on successful implementation is now converted into community Goat farm, with more than 25 families directly benefited from the project. They have also formed Goat Farming Union at Chungtor Village.
The plan is now to upscale the project and to cover a few dozen villages in the near future and in few years we are very confident this will become an innovative economic activity for thousands of poor families, as goat rearing is one of the most lucrative and low labour intensive activity.
Project: BACKYARD POULTRY FARM
Better Life Foundation has also successfully demonstrated backyard poultry farm in 7 cluster of villages through its Farmers' Club. With credit support from the State bank of India with subsidy from NABARD. The plan is to upscale the project in all the 7 villages (commercial scale).
