Book on Vembur sheep breeding will be printed in local language and distributed to the public and government on the importance of conserving this breed. Side event during COP11 of CBD will be organized in India about case studies on community conservation of local livestock breeds.
Livestock keepers will be given regular training on de-worming. 100 herders will be trained on scientific breeding techniques. Awareness generation program will be conducted on conservation of Vembur sheep breed in 7 villages.
Gender Focus
Local herders maintaining sheep?s will actively participate in selection of land for establishing sheep sandy, construction of sheep shed, maintaining of treated/ renovated water resources for animals, participating in animal health camps, animal fairs and careful selection of breeding. The herders will be involved in decision making in selection of beneficiaries for nucleus breeding units, selection of existing rainwater harvesting structure for renovation etc. The NGO will promote herders groups and also strengthen their federation. Banks will be linked for availing loans. Women (wife of the herders) will be encouraged to participate in micro credit program. The project promotes farmers level nucleus units and farmers or herders are oriented in selection or breeding in Vembur sheep production.
Notable Community Participation
N.A.
Significant Participation of Indigenous Peoples
The beneficiaries are not indigenous community.
Policy Impact
The federation will also link with Government departments for extending all health services for their sheep?s. Links will be established with NGOs (Life Network) and scientific organizations/ Research Centres [NBAGR (National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources) Karnal, TANUVAS (Tamil Nadu Veterinary Animal Science University) Chennai, NBA (National Biodiversity Authority) Chennai] working in conservation of local live stock breeds. NGO collaborates with Dept. of Animal Husbandry for implementing participatory animal husbandry development program. The project policies on Livestock development will be adopted by National Policy on Protection of local livestock breeds and Livestock keeper?s rights.
Emphasis on Sustainable Livelihoods
The main aim of the project is to build capacity of traditional pastoralist communities to increase their income through conservation and management of Vembur Sheep breed. 20 Animal Health camps will be organized in 10 villages for de- worming and preventive treatment against infectious diseases viz Blue tongue, PPR (enterotoxaemia) and foot and mouth disease.. The project envisages innovative breeding approach for achieving purity of the breeds. The program will address the requirements of 500 families in 18 villages. Herder?s family will earn more income through animal husbandry activities, reducing mortality of animals, selling of animals and animal products through new sandy and avail micro credit from the sheep herders association to meet their financial requirements. The project will maintain and renovate or improve existing animal drinking water sources/ facilities viz. 6 bore wells cum hand pumps and renovation of existing ponds in selected villages, repairing of 100 sheep sheds in the area.
Promoting Public Awareness of Global Environment
Women will be motivated to attend workshop, training and also in participating their labour contribution work. Workshops will be organized for the sheep herders. 2 meetings will be organized with the herders along with scientist to highlight breeding strategy.
Project Results
? Kachaikatty black sheep is a rare breed with population less than 2,000 in Vadipatti taluka, Madurai district. This breed has been officially registered with NBAGR, Karnal with registration number ?India_Sheep_1800_ Katchakatti Black_14040? in 2015.
? Constructed sheep shed for 15 pastoralists in Thoothukudi and Virudhunagar districts. SEVA has procured shed materials (GI Pipes, Asbestos sheet, Ankles) for all beneficiaries and cost of labour is contributed by the members. Fifty percent of total cost or 15,000 whichever is less is treated as subsidy for the farmers and the remaining money is treated as loan and this has to be repaid over two years in eight instalments or three months interval. (revolving fund approach)
? It has reduced or avoided mortality rate of animals due to unhygienic condition of halting site exposed to rain or climatic condition. The beneficiaries are cleaning the shed regularly and disposing the dung which led to hygienic condition of the environment which contributes to the health status of the animals including young kids.
? The new idea of nucleus breeding unit at community level has been initiated in this project and progress can be measured after 5 - 6 years of introduction. SEVA has selected 10 herders maintaining Vembur sheep breed and introduced quality male animals (Ram) for breeding purpose. After the initial phase of orientation of herders in this breeding strategy if followed in the field will ensure purity of the breed and vigour of the breed while preventing ?inbreeding? leading to poor quality of the breeding stock.
? In association with Animal Husbandry Department and herbal healers SEVA has organized 34 animal health camps covering 6172 animals during the project period. Herbal dewormer and vaccination against FMD have been performed in the villages viz. Vembur, Mavilpatti, Melakaranthai, Mettilpatti, Keelakaranthai, Thapatti, Guruvarpatti, Kambadhupatti, Nathathupatti, Karisalkulam, Kundalakuthur, Kodangipatti, Ayankarisalkulam. Veterinarians and livestock inspectors (Mr. Gunaseelan) attached with Government veterinary hospital viz. Melakaranthai, Vembur participated in this programme. Organized training programme on herbal medicine for animals to women SHG members.
? Initiated fodder development in Kakkivadanpatti (Vembakottai block, Virudhunagar District),Vembur Panchayat (Pudhur block, Thoothukudi District). Fodder Sorghum variety seeds, Desmanthes (Velimasal) seeds, Co-4 (Napier grass) slips have been distributed to 10 farmers. Neem seedlilngs (100 numbers) were distributed to farmers, schools, temple sites and planting has been completed in Vembur village.
