Hyderabad, May 11 (RAHNUMA): Society for Elimination of Rural Poverty (SERP) on Monday entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with P.V. Narsimha Rao Telangana Veterinary University (PVNRTVU) to provide technical guidance and training to self-help group (SHG) women engaged in livestock-based livelihoods.
The agreement was signed at B.R.K.R Bhavan with an objective to strengthen sustainable livelihood opportunities in dairy, sheep and goat rearing, and backyard poultry activities among rural women.
Speaking on the occasion, SERP Chief Executive Officer Divya Devarajan said the initiative aimed at reducing poverty through gainful self-employment, skilled jobs and sustainable livestock livelihood improvements. She said the programme would also focus on strengthening SHGs, village organisations and federations to promote community ownership and self-reliance.
Devarajan said the initiative would enhance financial access for poor households through bank linkages, revolving funds and subsidies, particularly for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and minority communities. She said the Community Investment Funds (CIF) and loans would be extended for activities such as ram lamb units, sheep and goat kid nurseries, backyard poultry mother units, bird units and quail units.
Under the MoU, the university will provide technical expertise, capacity building and technology transfer support to SERP beneficiaries. The university will also extend scientific guidance on housing, management and healthcare practices for livestock-based SHGs.
Registrar of PVNRTVU A Sarat Chandra said the university would support SERP beneficiaries with technical expertise in dairy farming, sheep and goat rearing, and backyard poultry management.
He said one of the major challenges affecting dairy and small ruminant productivity was malnutrition and deficiency of essential minerals. The university had developed an area-specific mineral mixture aimed at improving productivity and reproductive efficiency in cattle and buffaloes, and this expertise would be extended to farmers associated with SERP, he added.
Dr. Sarat Chandra further said the university had developed a dual-purpose backyard poultry variety named “Rajasri”, suitable for both meat and egg production. Chicks of the breed would be supplied through SERP for rearing and distribution among rural households to improve livelihoods and nutritional security.
The MoU stated that the collaboration would be non-financial in nature, though financial support could be extended whenever necessary.
