Project Detail

Community partnership in sustainable conservation of Vechur and other native cattle in Kerala

The animal genetic resources in India have been undergoing changes of unprecedented nature due discriminate crossbreeding. A no. of indigenous farm animal breeds are gradually declining and are becoming extinct. One of these is Vechur cattle of Kerela .The goal of the project is to conserve Vechur and other native breeds of cattle, as lot of people prefer Vechur/Native cow milk to that of crossbreeds for consumption.The farmer units as well as the nucleus herd can provide animals to meet the demand partially The sustainability will be ensured through integration with the farming system.There is a great demand for the dung and urine of the native cows for organic farming and this requirement can be met partially with this project.The trust has a Germplasm centre with Vechur and Kasargod cattle.This centre is primarily to help the farmers by providing native cattle germplasm-mainly semen from purebred bulls.This is the only source of semen south to Thrissur and up to Thiruvananthapuram. The infrastructure is limited but very helpful to farmers. Unless serious efforts are made for the native breeds they will not be available to the world when to the world when it might be necessary.The project will focus to work with local people through SHG and community trained volunteers. A business approach will be developed which will yield good results.The better yields in incomes from conservation of cows will result in better practices.

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Project Snapshot

Grantee:

Vechur Conservation Trust

Country:

India

Area Of Work:

Biodiversity

Operational Phase:

OP5-Y3 (Jul 13 - Jun 14)

Grant Amount:

US$ 33,735.00

Co-Financing Cash:

US$ 50,834.00

Co-Financing in-Kind:

US$ 399,078.00

Project Number:

IND/SGP/OP5/Y3/STAR/ 2013/08/KER02

Start Date:

7/2013

End Date:

1/2016

Status:

Satisfactorily Completed

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Project Characteristics and Results

Capacity - Building Component

100 farmers will be selected and trained. A field visit will be conducted to a model organic farm. 3 training programs will be conducted in 3 districts in order to make farmers aware about the conservation of Animal Biodiversity. Exposure will be given to the communities regarding the livestock management practices.

Promoting Public Awareness of Global Environment

Germplasm centre with Veechur and Kasargod cattle will be developed to help the farmers by providing native cattle germplasm- mainly semen from purebred bulls. Interaction campaigns will be done every 6 months to have a feedback of the activities done. 1 workshop will be conducted for the farmers along with that 1 staff will be given training on animal reproduction.

Policy Impact

Kerela Veterinary and AS university will collaborate in exchange of breeding animals, others along with them banks will also help ,SHG ,animal husbandry department will also collaborate with the same. The project will bring policy change in the Government sector and will inspire them to replicate the model.

Gender Focus

Local institutions/ groups or Self Help Groups will be formed in all villages with one representative for one village. Both men and women will be given training in animal husbandry practices. 100 organic farms will be started with fodder species which will give higher yield in agriculture. People will participate in rearing the animals, systematically breeding them will help the endanger species from becoming extinct which will help the farmers in better incomes.

Inovative Financial Mechanisms

Media will be used for the coverage on the domestic animal conservation in kerela. Brochures will be printed and distributed among communities to make them aware of the native livestock.

Notable Community Participation

N.A.

Significant Participation of Indigenous Peoples

The beneficiaries are not indigenous community.

Emphasis on Sustainable Livelihoods

The main aim of project is conservation of Animal Biodiversity by conserving Vechur and other native breeds of cattle for better livelihood. The project will develop and institutionalize the practices for the conservation of native breed of cows which will help them to increase their incomes through increased milk and related products. They will ensure better food security and livelihoods for the communities. New units will be started to spread the activity into more dissemination villages. The project will focus to work with the local people through SHGs and community trained volunteers.

Project Results

* Local groups/self help group formed in Kozhikod, Palakkad & Kottayam. The local representatives/ leaders are good communicators and link between the farmers and the project staff.
* Registration done for 319 cows. Identification by ear tagging / microchipping done for 204 animals in the project area. Microchipping was a new method introduced for accurate identification, prevention of fraud and indirectly increasing the value of the animals.
* Semen collection and processing were done on regular basis in the Germplasm centre Neendoor. Frozen Semen was brought from the University. Collaboration established with the Kerala veterinary and Animal Sciences University (where the Principal Investigator of this project started the first Vechur Conservation Unit in 1989) and frozen semen purchased by the Trust and supplied to 3 centres Neendoor, Kozhikode and Vandazhy (Palakkad).
* Trainings given by the Trust for the production and marketing of value added products to make conservation programme profitable and sustainable. Products are namely: a) Vechur Ghee, b) Kasargod Ghee, c) GOMU, d) Bhoosanjeevani.
* All the farmers have switched to organic farming. A real integration of agriculture and animal husbandry has happened. Zero budget/Natural farming has gained more and more popularity among farmers, this was due to the positive results in yield of organic products are fetching a higher price in the market.
* Three Breeders Association were formed, namely:
1. Wayanad Breeders Association
2. Kasargod Cattle Breeders Association
3. Vechur Cattle Breeders Associations.

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