Women raise country fowls, reap rich dividends

Kambadur(Anantapur): Sathyavathi of Andepalle village in Kambadur mandal is raising country fowls and earning handsome income for her family. She as part of her women's group in the village has started her country fowls business with just Rs.10,000 investment. Country fowls which are scarcely available are in great demand, especially in the neighbouring Karnataka state which is on the border of Kambadur mandal.

Country fowl traders come to the door step of those raising the fowls and purchase them, making it easy for small poultries to dispense with their ready to sell hens. Sathyamma stated that she is able to suplement her husband's income earned on daily wages which is not assured on a daily basis. Women raising fowls, sheep and goats and buffaloes and cows are earning enough to keep both ends meet.

Another woman Rajeshwari of the same village who is raising country fowls says she earns Rs.400 to Rs.500 on a fowl depending on its weightage. Besides moneyed people in village who are land lords prefer to purchase country fowls which are tastier than the white farm chicks. At any point of time in the village, country fowls are in great demand. She says that most of her fowls are purchased by land lords who radomly throw parties. A fowl, sheep or goat are viewed as any time money(atm).

Rural women who are part of the SHG groups in the district have found better avenues of economic empowerment in raising of country fowls, sheep and goat rearing and in setting up of domestic backyard dairies. These domestic units are contributing to creation of supplementary assets which keep the family economy going. The district is top in the state in sheep and in livestock rearing. The women have found raising of country fowls too a profitable proposition.

There is huge market everywhere fr cuntry fowls as they are scarcely available. The DRDA is trying to balance the rural economy by encouraging women to take to domestic trade with family as a unit. In Rayadurg mandal SHG women have found livelihods in the rearing of sheep, goats and country fowls apart from backyard dairies.

Chandralekha is happy to earn handsome money. Speaking to 'The Hans India' she says that her country fowls project has created a reserve fund for her family as anytime she can sell them to meet emergency needs. The DRDA is supplying them alng with bank loan linkage or by extending assistance from the Sthree Nidhi bank of the Zilla Samaikya. Similar are the Sheep rearing units that are providing avenues of earning for women in all the 63 mandals in the district. The sheep rearing units in Kambadur village are enriching the rural economy.

Mangamma is also anther example of financial empowerment in Kambadur village. DRDA project director Venkateshwarlu talking to 'The Hans India' says that Rs.16.45 crores have been spent in 2016-17 year in the district on supply of Ram Lambs and sheep to 8,236 women so far. During 2015-16 year 8408 Ram Lambs, 4569 sheep and 234 goat units with 10-20 in a single unit were distributed.

Also 6502 and 9629 cows had been given to the women apart from disbursing 186 units of country fowls. Each unit consists of 25 to 50 to 100 fowls in a single unit. Additional project director of Velugu M.V.Subbarayudu said that he is happy at women and house wives in rural area reaping rich dividends through their sheep and goat rearing and country fowls units. Women are a happy lot displaying their economic power and self confidence.

By Ravi P Benjamin