Approved Actionable Points of the National Concluding Workshop on Strengthening Small Ruminants Based Livelihoods, New Delhi, 12 January 2016

1.  Goats and sheep offer an effective risk mitigation strategy to small and marginal farmers, especially in rainfed regions, where they are intricately linked with cropping systems, and make livelihoods more climate resilient. More than 83% of the livestock in India is reared in the mixed crop-livestock system, and therefore, the development of the two sub-sectors must adopt an integrated approach.

[Action: DADF, GoI, State Governments/UT, development donors and partners]

[Action: SA PPLPP and DADF, GoI]

3.  Although the Pashu Sakhi model of improving goat-based livelihoods is a demonstrated success, as evident from a multitude of projects around the country, enabling sustainability and legitimacy of their services requires that all States/UT quickly notify the Minor Veterinary Services (MVS) under the Section 30 (b) of the Veterinary Council of India Act, 1984, including provision of first aid, deworming and vaccination of small animals and poultry. At the same time, energies and efforts need to be directed towards ways and means of Certification, Accreditation, or otherwise recognition of trained Pashu Sakhis within the existing legal, institutional and administrative frameworks.

[Action: State/UT Animal Husbandry Departments]

4.  In Madhya Pradesh, efforts were ongoing to link up Pashu Sakhis with veterinary institutions, after the regional consultation at Bhopal in September, 2015, hosted by the department of Animal Husbandry, Government of Madhya Pradesh. The process and outcome of these efforts to be shared with DADF, GoI and other States/UTs at the earliest possible.

[Action: Department of Animal Husbandry, Madhya Pradesh]

5.  In replicating and up-scaling the Pashu Sakhi model in other regions and geographies, the centrality of women in the success of the pilots should not be forgotten, because that is the key to both accessibility and sustainability of the services provided, as well as empowerment of women.

[Action: DADF, GoI, State governments/UTs, development donors and their partners]

6.  Over a two-year term, the SA PPLPP goat pilot in M.P. had resulted in doubling of the goat population, and a 1.6 times return on investment from sale of goats; on the other hand, the poultry pilot of similar scale in the same State had resulted in a 5.8 times return on investment, not counting the intangible gains in terms of empowerment of women, improved access to preventive veterinary services, convergence with local governance institutions, and so on. A major learning from the two pilot projects was the importance of combining goat and BYP, not only as livelihood options, but also for the financial sustenance of Pashu Sakhis. Results and learnings from SA PPLPP pilot projects to be made available to all delegates. 

[Action: Development donors and partners; SA PPLPP]

7.  Taking a cue from small ruminant livelihood development projects successfully implemented by NGOs across the country, all State/UT AH&VS departments were requested to recognize the feasibility and scope of fee-based service provision to livestock-keepers, and undertake large-scale deworming and vaccination programmes in their respective States/UTs.

[Action: State Animal Husbandry Departments] 

8.  Subsequent to the national workshop in January 2015, the DADF, GoI has developed biosecurity guidelines for poultry farms and for goat and sheep farms, and taken steps for policy interventions in the following areas: (i) community insurance of livestock; (ii) preventing negative selection of bucks for breeding purposes; and (iii) development of market infrastructure for livestock under the APMC Acts, enacted by the State/UT Governments. The guidelines would be shortly made available on websites of DADF and SA PPLPP.

[Action: DADF, GoI and SA PPLPP]

9.  There was mention of Joint Forest Management (JFM) Committees planning to grow fodder tree species in areas under JFM in Tripura; the process of arriving at the decision, its implementation, management and outcomes need to be studied and assessed for replication and adaptation in other parts of the country.

[Action: DADF, GoI with SAPPLPP, AHD – Tripura, and Tripura Forest Department]

10.  The State of Rajasthan has pledged INR 300 crores over a five-year term towards goat-based livelihoods development in the State, including INR 500 lakhs for market development. The aim is for the interventions to result in incremental incomes of INR 50,000 – 80,000 for about 3,00,000 households. 

[Action: Animal Husbandry Department, Govt. of Rajasthan]

11.  In Maharashtra, an excellent convergence initiative aimed at training and sustainability of a cadre of Pashu Sakhis had been implemented by the Maharashtra State Rural Livelihoods Mission (MSRLM), in partnership with The Goat Trust, AFARM and Kudumbashree, and Maharashtra AHD; the initiative also included financial services and interventions for establishing alternative market mechanisms. Results of the interventions to be documented and shared widely.

[Action: MSRLM]

12.  Learning from past experiences with cross-breeding, and taking note of the ongoing issues, challenges, and departmental initiatives at improving productivity in small ruminants, all States/UTs were requested to develop a small ruminant breeding policy, with emphasis on conservation and improvement of native germplasm, and recognition of existing indigenous breeds. Further, all States/UTs were advised to exercise discretion in introducing and/or distributing exotic breeds in the field or among livestock-keepers in the State/UT.

[Action: State/UT Animal Husbandry Departments]

13.  Disease control, prevention and eradication through comprehensive and systematic disease control programmes in small ruminants will transform the livelihoods of smallholder livestock-keepers; coordinated efforts by all the stakeholders are of utmost priority for achievement of this objective.

[Action: All stakeholders, Government and non-Government]

14.  The goat market is valued at USD 7 billion, with involvement of over 14 million households; however, the goat value chain was disjointed and marketing mechanisms were inefficient. The BMGF-IFAD have launched a project for design of a Programme for private-public-private producer partnerships (4Ps) in small ruminant value chain development in India, which will cover the States of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Odisha and is expected to turn goat farming into a viable activity for the modern youth, through focus on commercial farms, abattoirs, marketing; partnerships between government, private sector and producers (4 Ps); and creation of new farmer institutions for aggregation of produce and improved market negotiation.

[Action: IFAD, BMGF, concerned States and partner agencies]

15.  Taking cognizance of shrinking pastures, closure and/or diversion of forest areas, and spiraling conflicts between small-ruminant herders and the forest departments, it was recommended that the issue be taken up at the highest level between the DADF, the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, and the Ministry of Tribal Affairs. A round-table consultation on the issue, with senior officials from the concerned departments and experts on forest management and regeneration, would be hosted by the DADF, GoI.

[Action: DADF, GoI]