Small and marginal farmers (having less than 2 acres of land) constitute 86% of the total farmers in India. Most of them are poor and food insecure with limited access to markets and services.

These farmers operate these farms like an entrepreneur by making the decision for both profits and loss. They decide what to plant when to sow and irrigate, where to store, how much to keep and sell. These choices are purely dependent on the livelihood and other family needs like health and education.

In Assam, 85% of the population lives in rural areas is dependent on agriculture. The number of smallholders and marginalized farmers constitute the major chunk of farming with very limited income. They are engaged in diverse income generation activities to diversify their income to cover the family needs.

Jithon Narzary, 35, from Amteka Balagari village of Chirang District in Assam has taken this risk to diversify his income through livestock rearing. The results were encouraging as his income started improving with

Agriculture is the main occupation, Jithon used to grow seasonal vegetables and cash crops on his one acre of land. The production was not sufficient to cater to the needs of his family. Every season, he used to tirelessly cultivate rice, jute, mustard, yam, ginger, and other crops. Despite all the hard work, he could only get a profit of only Rs. 1,85,000/- per year (approx.). He also started keeping few local chickens but that too couldn’t make much profit as the chickens used to die out of diseases.

“The average landholding of smallholders in this area is hardly between 0.5 to 1 acre which limits the potentials of farmers to cultivate and could be perhaps one of the reasons that they try to diversify their cropping patterns.

Such diversified systems also include rearing of livestock which smallholder tries to meet his ends. Caritas India while promoting a farmer-led approach is promoting such farmers with possible assistance through the FARM programme.” informed Fr Joseph Toppo, Director, Bongaigaon Gana Seva Society (BGSS)

Food and Nutrition Security program, FARM Northeast in Assam has promoted several farmers in the Region to upscale their production by diversifying their farm and income. Funded by Misereor and supported by Caritas India, the program through its technical support has provided regular trainings and handholding to the farmers.

Jithon has attended one such exposure cum training program on Livestock Rearing and Management at Umran, Meghalaya. Topics of improved management aspects of poultry management, breeds of poultry, vaccination schedules of poultry against major diseases helped in understanding the detailing of the care and management. The training program motivated the participants to learn and start the poultry business.

The knowledge and skills gained from the training motivated him to invest some of the money which he could save from the agricultural cultivation in buying livestock. Now, he could save the livestock from diseases and sell more than before. His shed is now filled with goats, cows, pigs, rabbits and poultry. He also generates income by selling milk and eggs on a daily basis. From the sale of eggs, milk, chicken and other livestock his monthly income has increased.

The additional income Rs. 1,20,000/- per year from livestock products is a bonus for his family. Through his hard work, his monthly income has increased from Rs. 15,000/- to 25,000/- (approx.)

Other than livestock, he still cultivates ginger, yam and seasonal vegetables in his one acre of land. Through his constant hard work, Jithon has not only improved his family’s living standard but has also become a role model for other farmers. He also shares his knowledge and skills with people who visit his farm to seek solutions.

With the money that he earned by doing the activity, he has plans to invest in livestock. He has already bought more livestock and has extended the area of net fencing.