Kamla Farmers Producer Company, which is fully-owned and run by women, in Darbhanga district of Bihar, has managed to change the profile of the area through the promotion of undertaking goat rearing as a livelihood activity
In the rural district of Darbhanga in Bihar, a stellar story of women empowerment emerges through the success of Kamla Farmers Producer Company, which is fully-owned and run by women.
Facing the Odds
The objective was to organise women for undertaking goat rearing as a livelihood activity with a focus on the backward community, especially the Dalits. It was a great challenge for the Farmers Producer Organisation (FPO) to organise the goat farmers or women into producer groups in the form of Self-Help Groups (SHGs) or Joint Liability Groups (JLG) for the promotion of the goat farming business model. About 70 per cent families are sharecroppers and 30 per cent are small and marginal farmers.
The acceptance of a new idea such as becoming of members and shareholders of the company, contributing share money, a business mode of goat marketing, a business based on a value chain system, adoption of improved animal health practices, among others, were the major ideas or concepts, which took about a year for acceptance.
There was competition with local suppliers of seeds. Initially, they spread rumours against the FPO that the associates are selling government seeds, which are supposed to be distributed free to farmers. Developing and maintaining a mutual supporting relationship of trust with farmers was also a big challenge in the beginning for the purposes of business.
In the beginning, no whole seller trusted the FPO or agreed to supply inputs on credit to them.
Taking Bold Interventions
The FPO made agreements with Khatiks (butchers) and slaughter shops for the marketing and sale of goats. Earlier, what used to be a conflict relation has now changed into mutual supporting relations for the business of goats. A value-chain system has been developed among farmers and women, FPO and slaughter shops for goat business.
At least 12 Pashu Sakhis (friends of animals) were trained for popularisation of improved animal health management. The FPO started marketing and sale of goats, seeds and surplus farm produces. It initiated the capacity building of the CEO and members of the Board of Directors (BODs) through training and exposure visits.
Initiatives were taken toward the convergence with local administration, district administration, Heifer and World Vision India for the benefit of members of the FPO. On the special occasion of the New Year, Holi, Dussherra, Bakri Eid and during marriage season, FPO organises bakra haats (goat markets) for the sale of goats.
Making a Significant Impact
The FPO is fully-owned and run by women, which comprises five women BODs, 3,568 women as shareholders and 3,798 women as its members. The business turnover of the FPO has substantially increased from Rs 5.8 lakh in 2016-17 to Rs 92 lakh (approx. and yet to be audited) in 2020-21. In addition, the goat mortality rate has reduced to below 2 per cent. More than 40 women have started goat farming by stall feeding, a system in which goats are being grown in protected area with well-maintenance and feed of cultivated fodders, forages, silage and concentrate feed. It is a good sign for increasing the herd size of the goats.
Farmers receive good quality reliable seeds at their village at reasonable prices, which has improved yield and also income. Since, the majority of the members are share-croppers, small and medium farmers, their production is not very high to be negotiated in the market. The FPO aggregates the surplus produce and markets it so that the members can get remunerative price.
My Pad My Right project of NABFOUNDATION has started with the support of the FPO members providing a customer base for sanitary pads.
Special Intervention During the Phase of Covid-19
The FPO formed Corona Prevention Committees in 50 villages; each village had five women-member committee. The women members of the committees were equipped with preventive measures to deal with the Coronavirus for keeping the migrant labours in isolation with proper care and respect in their villages. In some villages, they made isolation places in mango orchards. It played a very effective role in the prevention of the spread of the virus in the villages.