Resham is the wife of Chokharam in block Taoru, district Nuh, Haryana. Her family’s income is through farming in two acres of land and animal husbandry with four buffaloes. Resham studied till fifth grade, has eight family members, and the family’s average monthly income is INR 12,000. Since April 2018, S M Sehgal Foundation has been implementing a project on agricultural development and household income enhancement.
In September 2020, Resham participated in the project’s farmer awareness meeting where the benefit of balanced animal nutrition and feed supplements was explained. Resham was selected for its demonstration.
Since 10 October 2020, Resham fed her buffalo with 50 grams of the balanced animal nutrition diet per day in the evenings. She says, “Before this treatment our buffalo used to give 10 liters of milk every day; but after twenty days of treatment, the milk quantity increased by 2 liters, my buffalo is more energetic, and her digestive system is better. Since a liter of milk sells for INR 40–42, I earned an additional income of approximately INR 5,000 in just two months.”
The cost of the animal nutrition kit is INR 1,200 and it lasts for six months. Therefore, Resham can expect to earn an additional amount of about INR 18,000 during an animal’s lactation period, after deducting the cost of the kit.
Resham has already purchased another packet of the same animal feed from her additional income to feed her other buffalo. She advises, “Those households who depend on the sale of milk for their livelihood must definitely use this product, as this increases the milk quantity and thereby the income”
(N P Singh is program lead, Agriculture Development and Ellora Mubashir is communications specialist, Partnerships at S M Sehgal Foundation)
