Deprecated (16384): The ArrayAccess methods will be removed in 4.0.0.Use getParam(), getData() and getQuery() instead. - /home/brlfuser/public_html/src/Controller/ArtileDetailController.php, line: 150
 You can disable deprecation warnings by setting `Error.errorLevel` to `E_ALL & ~E_USER_DEPRECATED` in your config/app.php. [CORE/src/Core/functions.php, line 311]
Deprecated (16384): The ArrayAccess methods will be removed in 4.0.0.Use getParam(), getData() and getQuery() instead. - /home/brlfuser/public_html/src/Controller/ArtileDetailController.php, line: 151
 You can disable deprecation warnings by setting `Error.errorLevel` to `E_ALL & ~E_USER_DEPRECATED` in your config/app.php. [CORE/src/Core/functions.php, line 311]
Warning (512): Unable to emit headers. Headers sent in file=/home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php line=853 [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 48]
Warning (2): Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php:853) [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 148]
Warning (2): Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php:853) [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 181]
Gender | Village women use mobile power to become successful goat farmers -J Arockiaraj

Village women use mobile power to become successful goat farmers -J Arockiaraj

Share this article Share this article
published Published on Feb 23, 2013   modified Modified on Feb 23, 2013
-The Times of India

THENI: Villages near Bodi Hills in Tamil Nadu are seeing a quiet revolution in animal-rearing facilitated by technology. Many women in these villages, who are involved in goat farming, are harnessing the power of the cell phone, for managing their herds better. Every day, they receive about five voice messages on their mobile phones about scientific methods of goat rearing which they say, have helped them improve the yield from their flock immensely.

These women are now being referred to as the 'voicemail goat farmers'. Most of them are either semi-literate or illiterate and the messages on their mobiles is a novel way for them to get themselves educated on best practices in their field.

The project, probably the only one of its kind, is being implemented through Kisan Sanchar Limited (IKSL) of IFFCO in collaboration with Vidiyal NGO where the women have formed themselves into a self-help group. The roots of the project go back to 2008 when the women were provided with bank loans and simultaneously educated on goat rearing through voice messages provided by IKSL. Today, after five years, nearly 70 percent of them have paid back their loans and are successful goat farmers.

"We were rearing goats for many years but the voice messages taught us how to administer medicine and vaccines to goats, how to feed them better with supplements and how to prevent them from seasonal and endemic diseases," says P Papathi from Bodi. Adds A Periajakkamma of Chinnapottipuram village, "We feel we are better educated in goat rearing as compared to others who don't receive these 'voice mails'. Also, our goats now weigh more and yield a better income for us."

In fact, the women have got not just better profits but also increased independence. "Today we have Rs 1.5 lakh worth of goats and it has given us a lot of confidence," says P Vasiammal of Kodiabommanaickanputhur hamlet in Bodi hills. Some, like Periajakkamma, who never went through a formal education, were even invited to Canada to speak about the scheme. Buoyed by their success, the women of the area are now starting a co-operative - that will be registered under the Company's Act - and will carry out functions like buying, selling of goats, procuring vaccines and medicines as well as getting better insurance cover for their animals.
 

The Times of India, 23 February, 2013, http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/Village-women-use-mobile-power-to-become-successful-goat-farmers/articleshow/18638154.cms


Related Articles

 

Write Comments

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*

Video Archives

Archives

share on Facebook
Twitter
RSS
Feedback
Read Later

Contact Form

Please enter security code
      Close