The population of India living below the poverty line declined from 37% in 2004-2005 to 22% in 2011-12 (Planning Commission data). In 2011-12, 22% of the population (one in five Indians) lived in extreme poverty. 43% of the poor belong to Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe categories, as per World Bank statistics (2016). In India, about 60% of the total net sown area comes under rainfed lands. Rainfed crops account for 48% area under food crops and 68 percent under non-food crops. India ranks first among the rainfed agricultural countries of the world in terms of both extent and value of produce. Due to population pressure on agricultural lands, poverty is concentrated in rainfed regions. During any natural calamity such as drought, delay in monsoon or excessive rain there is always a possibility of crop failure resulting in serious financial loss and crisis for the smallholders and their families.

Livestock plays an important role in the Indian economy. About 20.5 million people depend upon livestock for their livelihood. Livestock contributed 16% to the income of small farm households as against an average of 14% for all rural households. Livestock provides livelihood to two-thirds of the rural community. It also provides employment to about 8.8 % of the population in India. India has vast livestock resources. The livestock sector contributes 4.11% GDP and 25.6% of total Agriculture GDP.

India is the world’s highest owner at about 535.78 million livestock. First in the total buffalo population having 109.85 million, second in goats about 148.88 million and secondly largest market for poultry in the world. India is considered the second-largest producer of fish and aquaculture nation in the world. Third in sheep having 74.26 million while fifth in duck and chicken with 851.81 million.

Considering this huge livestock asset, significant efforts have been made by Caritas India to make the smallholders realise more of the importance on the livestock management through its program called Gram Nirman. Gram Nirman is a program supported by Caritas Australia and Australian Aid to enhance the livelihood income of 165 most vulnerable tribal communities in  Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh state.

With the concept of the Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) approach, Caritas India in coordination with the community making concerted efforts to make the smallholders to reflect on their present agricultural practices where smallholders take out major challenges affecting their farm productions and thereby annual food security. During the entire field exercise, livestock management was considered to be one of the major challenges in terms of health, fodder, and rearing management at the local level.

Based on the above concerns, a series of community-level training programs were organised in coordination with the local veterinary departments. During this training sessions, 550 smallholders not only got the opportunity to share their livestock-related problems with the government officials but also received immediate technical guidance and treatment support. The exercise was so effective that, smallholders enthusiastically started following the technical guidance received during the training. Out of 550, 33 smallholders have renovated their goat shed with raised bed technique, 57 smallholders are recycling livestock waste (cow dung and urine) and producing vermicompost for their small farms, 300 smallholders have started utilizing their fallow lands for cultivation of green fodder (i.e. berseem) whereas smallholders along with community leaders have decided to vaccinate all their livestock.

Livestock is a major component of agriculture. If livestock will be healthy, we shall harvest healthy crops. Livestock plays a vital role in availing good quality organic manure and many bio-pest repellents can be prepared out of cow urine. Thanks for helping smallholders like us to make our farming more resilient. Mr. Bimal Munda from the village shared delighted.

Gram Nirman program is a direct implementation program based on ABCD approach with the objective to enhance the livelihood income of communities for a dignified life. The program works to facilitate improved access of various schemes and programmes, enhancing the income of families through on-and off-farm livelihood initiatives, and making efforts towards availing recognition and empowerment of widows, PLDWs and migrants in 165 tribal-dominated villages of Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh.