Goatery Based Women Livelihood Development Project
Yuva Mitra has been working on Goatery Based Women Livelihood Development Program from last 4 years with the support of HT Parekh Foundation and Nalanda Foundation. During the implementation of this program, a need was felt to bring each component of goat farming at one place and to develop one stop knowledge house. Hence, Goat Resource Centre along with Savitri Bai Phule Goat Farming Producer Company supported by NABARD for marketing was established by Yuva Mitra.
Inauguration ceremony of Goat Resource Centre and Savitri Bai Phule Goat Farming Producer Company along with Mahila Melava event was held on 1st June 2018 in which around 2000 women from different villages actively participated. Mr. Rajabhau Waje (MLA, Sinnar), Ms. ShitalTai Sangle (President, ZP Nashik), Mr. Kiran Dagle (President, Municipal Coorporation Sinnar), Mr. Hemant Waje (Member Maratha Vidhya Prasarak Samaj, Nashik), Dr. Sanjay Mandak Male (Senior Scientist, MPKV, Rahuri), Mr. Sanjay Joshi (Vice President, Nalanda Foundation), Mr. Srirang Sirsikar (Aditya Birla Group) were chief guest for the event.
This event started with inauguration speech by Ms. Manisha Pote, Program Director, Yuva Mitra with the facilitation of chief guests and introduction of women livelihood development program followed by speeches of guests and directors of Savitri Bai Phule Goat Farming Producer Company. In this producer company, currently 673 women are involved and weight based live goat maketing was also taking place from last 3 years. In the upcoming year, the company is planning to sell goat milk, by-products and meat under the brand SAHAJ whose inauguration was held in this event.
A competition was organized for best goat, best kid and best shed in the project area. A committe for judgement was also formed including Mr. Mandak Male (MPKV, Rahuri), Mr. Ashish Kumar Patel (ILFS, Mumbai), Ms. Parineeta Deshmukh (Bajaj Allianz Insurance Company Ltd.) and Ms. Sunanda Bhabad (Director, Savitri Bai Phule Goat FPC). These jury members visited farms of nominated members and marked them according to the prescribed criteria.
Ms. Jayshree Kedar (Director, Savitri Bai Phule Goat FPC) in her speech told about the past achievements and way forward of the company. Mr. Padmakar Morade (Morade Goat Farm, Nashik) shared his 8 years of experience in goat farming in which he told about ideal practices of stall feed goat farming. Mr. Rajabhau Waje (MLA, Sinnar) appreciated the work being done in livelihood sector for women and came forward for any kind of help from the government department in future. Ms. Shital Sangale in her speech ensured about the land availability for milk and goat processing unit set up. Mr. Sanjay Joshi (Nalanda Foundation) talked about the association from last 4 years and ensured his continuous support in future through this project. Mr. Mandak Male (MPKV,Rahuri) told about the benefits and importancee of rearing local goat breeds and requested the audience to include these breeds in their goat farm. He also ensured to provide local buck to our project women free of cost and continuous technical support. Mr. Padmakar Morade, Dr. Sanjay Mandakmale and Mr. Sunil Pote took a discussion session with women and shareholders in which the participants asked their doubts related to Producer Company and Goat Resource Centre. Mr. Sunil Pote announced the approval of 68 lakh loan sanctioning from NabKisan Finance for establishment of milk processing unit.
The gathering of women was seen quite good in number and they got the clarity about the working and future prospects of the producer company and goat resource centre. In the end, women and Yuva Mitra people celebrated this achievement through music and dance. It was a day well spent and hope the exponential growth to have more such programs in future.