Rotary Club of Poona North donates 400 cows to  lady farmers

Pune:

Rotary Club of Poona North recently donated 400 cows to 400 Rural , poor, marginal lady farmers families, from Pune District,to provide Sustainable Livelihoods for a lifetime.

Cow Donation Project is designed to provide Sustainable Livelihood opportunities for small & marginal farmer families in 40 villages under economically weaker sections in rural areas of Khed, Maval, Mulshi, Haveli, Junnar, Parner Talukas.Kumar Shinagare, Past President of Rotary Club of Poona North informed through a press release.

This was a Synergy project with 40+ Rotary clubs from Pune District & Taiwan joining hands with Rotary club of Poona North, as host club.The Project Budget was Rs 1.60 Crores. This comes to Rs 40,000 per cow

*Donating Cows Since 2005*

Since 2005 Club has donated 1200 Cows using Global Grant Funds, which has by now resulted in a cow population of over 6000 & a bull population of over 2000. Milk production has increased so much that in 2005 there was no Milk chilling /collection center, but now there are more than 200+ collection centers & 27 Dairies are collecting milk daily from all these centers. Average family income has risen by Rs. 7000 per month per cow around the year, bringing prosperity to the region. Overseas sponsors clubs from Netherlands, USA & Taiwan have supported these projects in the past.

Beneficiaries: 400 Marginal Lady Farmer Families of Villages   Khed, Maval, Mulshi, Haveli Talukas, Dist Pune.       Indirect Beneficiaries : 5000+ inhabitants

 *Objectives of the Project* :

1. Increase Milk Productivity up to 10 Lit/day/cow. ( 3000 lit/day)

2. Increase income up to Rs 8K PM/Cow/ Family. ( Rs 21 L/PM)

3. Multiplying  Cow Population Exponentially (1 Calf /18 months) 

4. Training community in Cow Breeding, Milk business.

5. Make the project catalyst in prosperity in the region.

Project Activities covered Socio economic survey of the villages, Selection of beneficiaries, Open discussion with Village management to get their support, Pre- Project training of beneficiaries, Exposure visits, Selection of Cow vendors, Purchase of Cows, Cow management and Nutrition training, Monitoring the progress of project till its successful completion and finally impact Assessment.

*Types of Cows Purchased*: HF (Holstein Frisian), Gir, Deshi.

Cow Markets from where cows were purchased Loni (Sangamner) & Dhule. Rotarians regularly visited beneficiaries. 27 different Dairies including Amul, Katraj are collecting milk daily from milk collection centres in most villages.

DISHA (Development Initiative for Self Help & Awakening), as a Co-operating Organization, executed most of the projects in the field. DISHA has extensive experience in this field since year 2000.

Rotary clubs will continue to do such high impact making, sustainable mega projects bringing all round prosperity for the rural villages.