Hyderabad: The Society for Elimination of Rural Poverty (SERP) signed an MoU with P.V. Narsimha Rao Telangana Veterinary University on Monday to strengthen SHG livelihoods through livestock-based activities.
Officials signed the agreement at BRKR Bhavan to provide technical guidance and training for self-help group women involved in dairy farming, sheep and goat rearing, and backyard poultry activities.
SERP Chief Executive Officer Divya Devarajan said the initiative aimed to reduce poverty through self-employment, skilled jobs and sustainable livestock development. She said the programme would also strengthen SHGs, village organisations and federations to improve community ownership and self-reliance.
Devarajan said the initiative would improve financial access for poor households through bank linkages, revolving funds and subsidies. She said the programme would particularly support Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and minority communities.
SHG livelihoods to get technical and financial support
The SERP CEO said Community Investment Funds and loans would support activities such as ram lamb units, sheep and goat kid nurseries, backyard poultry mother units, bird units and quail units.
Under the MoU, the university will offer technical expertise, capacity building and technology transfer support to SERP beneficiaries. It will also guide SHGs on livestock housing, management and healthcare practices.
PVNRT Veterinary University Registrar A Sarat Chandra said the university would support beneficiaries with expertise in dairy farming, sheep and goat rearing, and backyard poultry management.
He said malnutrition and mineral deficiencies were major reasons for low productivity in dairy animals and small ruminants. The university had developed an area-specific mineral mixture to improve productivity and reproductive efficiency in cattle and buffaloes, he added.
Sarat Chandra said the university had also developed a dual-purpose backyard poultry variety called “Rajasri” for meat and egg production. SERP will supply chicks of the breed to rural households for livelihood and nutritional support.
The MoU stated that the collaboration would remain non-financial in nature, though authorities could extend financial support whenever required.
SERP signs MoU with PVNRT Veterinary University to strengthen livestock livelihoods for SHG women
Society for Elimination of Rural Poverty (SERP) on Monday entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with P.V. Narsimha Rao Telangana Veterinary University (PVNRTVU) to… pic.twitter.com/A9nA6uOgPR
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