Animal broker turns self reliant in farm

Devaraja is a 50 year old and living in Mahadevarahalli village. He is an animal broker and spent lot of money for alcohol. Totally he ignored his agriculture land. He always goes to Gandasi animal market and spends whole day. He takes lot of alcohol and he can’t able to reach home alone. Neighbor takes him to home always. He has three acres of irrigation land for his family. He came to know project works and he supported initial for family survey. Meanwhile project is also looking for a field guide for his village. He joined project in 2008-09 and he is also part of Bheeralingeswari men self help group. Project supported one acre WADI (orchard) model with following inputs viz, mango – 50 trees, silver oak – 150, teak – 150, acacia – 50, farm pond and intercrop seeds.

Project supported maize seeds for intercrop in first year. He earns Rs. 15,000/- from maize yield. Purchased one cross-breed cow from maize income and loan from his SHG’s, same time project gives enough training on management of cross-breed and supported fodder seeds.

Benefits of projects

1.     Social status of Devaraja in the village is changed and now he is village field guide and working in his land

2.    He is getting intercrop in WADI area; meanwhile he planted various silvi plants (forest seedlings) and horticulture plants. He is getting extra income from milk also.

3.    He got various training from project especially animal management and agro-forestry techniques. He is practicing diverse rich agro-horti forestry model in his farm

4.    He is getting artificial insemination service from project and project contribute to open milk collection centre with the help of Karnataka Milk Federation

5.    He is getting loan from his group and he got Rs. 10,000/- loan to purchase milking cow last seven months back.

6.    Project supported two sheeps to Devaraja and sold after 10 months of rearing and he got Rs 4000/- from sold of sheeps

7.    He got full respect from his family and also in village because he taken land back under cultivation and doing it now

Devaraja is now happy with project supports, villagers and SHG members are giving respect and moreover he is getting loan easily from groups. Land is now productive with multi-cropping system. Devaraja and is family are living decent and respected by others in the village. He not forgets to escalate project works after withdrawal of project.