Department of Animal Husbandry Government of Andhra Pradesh

Mahabubnagar

National Agricultural

Innovation Project

Sustainable Rural

Livelihoods (Component-3)

Central Research Institute for

Dryland Agriculture

Santoshnagar, Hyderabad-59

Developing a Para-Vet Cadre: Training and Handholding Support For

Rural Youth

March 19 – 05 May, 2008

NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL INNOVATION PROJECT Sustainable Rural Livelihoods Project (Comp-3)

Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture Santoshnagar :: Hyderabad – 500 059

Rainfed areas in India support nearly two-thirds of the country’s livestock population. And smallholder livestock contributes to nearly two-thirds of milk production in our country. Smallholder livestock is crucial to the sustainability of drought-prone rainfed areas, as it complements and supplements the family income and provides crucial resilience for the poor families to cope with drought. Sustainable management of smallholder livestock depends on several factors such as availability of fodder, veterinary services. Unfortunately, the extension services in the livestock sector are very poor and the knowledge and skills to engage in profitable livestock farming. This requires development of the capacity of rural youth in scientific livestock management practices particularly development of Para vet cadre. Keeping this in view, CRIDA organized a training course for developing the capacities of rural youth as Para-vets so that the trained youth can provide the livestock extension services in their own village and also make it as a livelihood activity for them

The office of the Joint Directorate of Animal Husbandry, Mahabubnagar has

been conducting para-vet training courses under the stewardship of Dr.B. Jaganmohan Reddy, Deputy Director, Animal Husbandry as part of several development programmes of the state government. Dr.Reddy has developed need-based training material in local language, Telugu and adopted the course to suit to a heterogeneous group of youth. However, such training programmes were offered to only the youth of Mahabubnagar district. Dr. Reddy was requested to design a course keeping in view the needs of the NAIP-SRLP districts and offer it to the youth selected from across these districts. Mr.B. Shivarudrappa, Chief Programme Coordinator, BIRD-AP facilitated the initial discussion with the officials of the Joint Directorate of Animal Husbandry at Mahabubnagar and scheduled a course for 45 days beginning from March 19, 2008.

All the cluster anchors were requested to identify suitable youth (10th Class

pass and below 25 years age) for the training programme and inform Mr.Shivarudrappa of BIRD-AP, who facilitated local arrangements for the trainees. The trainees arrived in Mahabubnagar on the evening of 18th March and reported to Dr.B.Jaganmohan Reddy, Deputy Director of Animal Husbandry, who coordinated the training programme.

The methodology involved more of hands on training in animal hygiene, feed

and fodder management, common diseases and vaccination schedule, etc. The para-vets were provided with a simple veterinary kit along with necessary literature after the programme so that they can be provide simple veterinary services in their native village and the help of local veterinary doctor whenever required. This way they are expected to serve the local farmers and also earn a livelihood for themselves.

The previous attempts to develop a cadre of para-vets to aid the on-going

development programmes have not produced the desired results. Studies indicate that lack of post-training handholding support has resulted in many trained Para-vets loosing interest. In order to prevent this, CRIDA is taking the following measures to provide the required support and time for them to settle down as useful resource persons for the community.

• Cluster anchors to facilitate a meeting of the trained para-vets with the local veterinarians and offering the services of para-vets for taking up animal health camps and other community vet-health campaigns

• Writing a letter to the Joint Directors of Animal Husbandry and Project Directors of District Water Management Agency (DWMA) of all the eight NAIP districts informing them about the training programme and the availability of para-vets in the village clusters and requesting them to inform the respective veterinary doctors to involve them in the on-going livestock / dairy development programmes

• Evolving a mechanism of retention by assuring a minimum monthly income and incentives for better performance to the para-vets. Providing other minimum infrastructure facilities and equipment along with the kit so that he can make use of his skills effectively.

• Organizing periodical interactions of para-vets with the trainers so that the problems / doubts they encounter during their fieldwork can be resolved.

H. Malarayudu S/O H.Kuntenna Pamapanur (Village) Atmukur (Mandalam) Ananthapur (Dist)

M. Venkataswamy S/O Narayana Pampnoor Atmakur (Mandal) Ananthapur (Dist)

B. Nagaraju S/O Pothanna Y.Kothapalli (Village) Atmakur (Mandal) Ananthapur (Dist) Contact No: 9490859756

K. Anil S/O venkati Kothwalguda (Village) Gudihuthnoor(Mandal) Adilabad (Dist) Contact No: 9966118213

K. Bapu Rao S/O Laxman Malkapur (Village) Gudihuthnoor (Mandal) Adilabad (Dist) Contact No: 9490960878

B. Balaraju S/O Nagaiah Mamillavai (Village) Gondi Gudem (post) Aswapuram (Mandal) Khammam (Dist)

P. Muthaiah S/O Jogaiah Kurvapally Kotharu (village) Gondigudam (post) Aswapuram (Mandal) Khammam (Dist) Contact No: 9959814650

V. Ramalakshmana S/O venkataiah Moodenilapalli (Village) B.Yarragude (post) Lakkyreddy palli (Mandal) Kadapa (Dist) Contact No: 9963621722

B. Hussain S/O Teja Chinnasitaramtanda Penpahad Kokkireni Nalgonda Contact No: 9989039068

D. Saida S/O Ramana Jalmalkunta Thanda (Vill) Lingala (Post) Penpahad (Mandal) Nalgonda (Dist) Contact No: 9705488982

U. Sheenaiah S/O Ramaiah Ibraimpur (Village) Mittakodur (Post) Parigi (Koduru) Ranga Reddy (Dist) Contact No: 9394568681

A.Venkatesh S/O Gattaiah Jaffarugudem (vill) Raghunathapally (Mandal) Aswarao Pally (Post) Warangal (Dist)

M. Raju S/O Ramulu Jaffarugudem (vill) Raghunathapally (Mandal) Aswarao Pally (Post) Warangal (Dist)

M. Hari S/O Balu Yapalagadda Tanda (Vill) Raghunathapally (Mandal) Aswarao Pally (Post) Warangal (Dist)

G. Anjaneyulu S/O Nagaiah Jamistapur (Village) Dharmapur (post) Mahabubnagar (Dist) Contact No: 9951937103

G.Krishnaiah S/O Venkanna Jamistapur (Village) Dharmapur (post) Mahabubnagar (Dist) Contact No: 9948510241

K. Gopal S/O Ramulu Jamistapur (Village) Dharmapur (post) Mahabubnagar (Dist) Contact No: 9912147074

Feedback from trainees “I never knew that livestock too were prone to several diseases like we human beings… The knowledge I gained through the training programme here is very interesting and useful. Now that I have gained skills to handle animals, vaccinate and administer medicines, I will be certainly useful to my community back in my village”

M. Hari Yapalagadda Tanda village

Warangal district

“When I first came here, I was very scared. For the first two-three days I was feeling very uneasy and wanted to go back home. But gradually I developed interest….. because the training here involved lot of practical experience. I feel very confident now to handle the animals and assist the veterinarian whenever required. I also hope to earn my livelihood by offering my services to the villagers”

B. Hussain Chinnasitaramtanda village

Nalgonda district

“I always wanted to know more about animals. This was a very good opportunity for me. I am now happy to go back to my village and serve my community by helping them to look after their animals well”

G. Anjaneyulu Jamistapur village

Mahabubnagar district

“The training has equipped us very well to act as useful resource persons in our villages. The knowledge I have gained will not only help me but also my community. I want to make a career out of this knowledge”

D. Saida Jalmalkunta Thanda village

Nalgonda district

Dr.B. Venkateswarlu, CPI, NAIP inaugurating the course

Certificates being distributed during course valediction

Trainees proudly displaying their Kits (above). Contents of the kit (below)

A classroom session in progress Trainees exposed to anatomy

Hands on practicals in fodder cultivation