SERP and PVNRT Veterinary University Partner to Boost Livestock-Based Livelihoods for Rural Women

Hyderabad: A significant partnership was formalized on Monday between the Society for Elimination of Rural Poverty (SERP) and P.V. Narsimha Rao Telangana Veterinary University to enhance income generation through livestock-based economic activities for self-help groups (SHGs).

The memorandum of understanding was executed at BRKR Bhavan, establishing a framework for delivering technical support and training to SHG women participating in dairy production, small ruminant husbandry, and backyard poultry farming.

According to SERP Chief Executive Officer Divya Devarajan, the partnership represents a strategic approach to poverty alleviation by fostering self-employment opportunities and enabling skill development alongside sustainable livestock sector growth. The initiative is designed to enhance institutional capacity within SHGs, village organizations, and their federations, fostering greater community participation and economic independence.

Devarajan highlighted that the scheme would facilitate improved access to financial resources for economically disadvantaged households through mechanisms including bank linkages, revolving funds, and targeted subsidies. The programme will prioritize outreach to Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe, and minority communities.

Technical and Financial Backing for Livestock Units

The SERP leadership indicated that Community Investment Funds and loan facilities would enable beneficiaries to establish ventures including ram lamb units, sheep and goat breeding nurseries, backyard poultry mother units, bird units, and quail production units.

Under the agreement's terms, the veterinary university will furnish technical expertise, training programmes, and technology transfer initiatives to SERP participants. The institution will also provide guidance on optimal livestock housing, management protocols, and health maintenance practices.

A Sarat Chandra, Registrar of PVNRT Veterinary University, affirmed the institution's commitment to deliver specialized knowledge in dairy production, small ruminant management, and poultry farming systems. He noted that nutritional deficiencies and mineral insufficiencies represent critical impediments to productivity gains in dairy cattle and smaller livestock species.

The university has developed a mineral supplement formulation tailored to regional conditions to enhance both productivity and reproductive performance in cattle and buffalo herds, Chandra noted.

The institution has also developed a dual-purpose backyard poultry breed designated "Rajasri," engineered for simultaneous meat and egg production. SERP will facilitate the distribution of chicks from this breed to rural households, contributing to both livelihood diversification and nutritional security.

While the MoU establishes the partnership as fundamentally non-financial in structure, provisions allow for financial contributions to be extended by participating authorities as circumstances warrant.