SERP, PVNRTVU join hands to empower SHG women

Hyderabad: The Society for Elimination of Rural Poverty (SERP) on Monday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with P.V. Narsimha Rao Telangana Veterinary University to strengthen livestock based livelihoods among self help group (SHG) women across Telangana. The agreement was formalised at B.R.K.R Bhavan in Hyderabad with an aim to enhance sustainable income opportunities through dairy farming, sheep and goat rearing, and backyard poultry activities.

Speaking on the occasion, SERP Chief Executive Officer Divya Devarajan said the collaboration was aimed at reducing poverty by promoting gainful self employment, skilled livelihoods and sustainable livestock development among rural women. She said the initiative would help strengthen SHGs, village organisations and federations while promoting community ownership and self reliance in rural areas.

Devarajan stated that the programme would improve access to financial assistance for poor households through bank linkages, revolving funds and subsidies, especially for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and minority communities. She said Community Investment Funds and loans would be extended to support various livelihood activities including ram lamb units, sheep and goat kid nurseries, backyard poultry mother units, bird units and quail units.

Under the MoU, the veterinary university will provide technical guidance, capacity building and technology transfer support to SERP beneficiaries. The university will also offer scientific expertise on livestock housing, management practices and healthcare to improve productivity and sustainability among livestock based SHGs.

Registrar of the university A Sarat Chandra said the institution would extend technical support in dairy farming, sheep and goat rearing, and backyard poultry management to rural women associated with SERP. He noted that malnutrition and mineral deficiencies were among the key factors affecting productivity and reproductive efficiency in cattle and buffaloes.

He said the university had developed an area specific mineral mixture designed to improve livestock productivity and reproductive health, and this expertise would now be shared with farmers linked to SERP.