Enriching Indigenous Dairy Breeds
Livestock plays a vital role in the Indian economy. About 20.5 million people depend upon livestock for their livelihood. Livestock contributed 16% to the income of small farm households as against an average of 14% for all rural households. Today, no one knows the names of India’s fast-vanishing indigenous cattle breeds anymore and hardly anyone cares. Traditional cowshed management practices are dead and forgotten.
Bhavyata Foundation has initiated a rural project for creating a sustainable environment for the preservation of the Dangi breeds in the neighbouring villages of Murbad Taluka of Thane district, along with the rural architecture of water, fodder availability and storage facilities for a perishable commodity like milk. Total Dangi cattle population in this belt numbers up to 3500, which are already sheltered amongst individual residents of villages in their own homes as one of their family members.
Bhavyata Foundation supports the farmers and locals by support for market linkages while strengthening rural infrastructure and conserving natural resources to generate sustained livelihoods by agriculture and dairy farming.