Improvement of rural people livelihood
in cold desert areas of the Western Himalayas
Web site realized by GERES
LIGHT : poultry farm
Context
In summer when roads are open, eggs and chickens are imported from the plains at low cost. But as soon as roads close for winter, these products are supplied by air and prices increase by up to three times the summer rate, or are not at all available. Thus, local production is an interesting business during winter.
However, in such cold areas, a poultry farm has to be heated from September to May. As no fuel wood is available and fossil fuels are expensive and polluting, a passive solar heating system, based on local materials, represents a cost effective and eco-friendly way to warm a poultry farm.
A solar poultry farm: design
A solar poultry is a south facing building, with insulated double walls in mud bricks. Each room has large glass windows and a side ventilator. An attached green house covers the south side: main objectives are to warm the rooms and to allow chicks a comfortable space for moving and feeding during winter.
This cottage scale poultry farm can accommodate from 100 to 400 chicks. The cost a building for 300 chicks is 150,000 Rs.
Picture: Poultry during construction in Kargil
Methodology
The project accompanies the promoter in the development of their project, by:
- Achieving a feasibility study of poultry farms in the area
- Organising visits of the interested promoters to other poultry farms
- Assisting the promoters in the definition of their project and the elaboration of a business plan
- Facilitating their investment by providing materials (30% of the total cost)
- Providing trainings and technical assistance in poultry farm running
The project contributes by providing materials (around 30 % of total cost) as well as technical support (feasibility studies, define the project with the promoter, exposure visit, training, and assistance during running)., however, promoters should have a certain investment capacity. Experience in poultry and account skills are some of the important criteria of selection.
Promoters usually start by purchasing ready made feed from private company or government, but the project works on a local feed preparation made of barley and wheat floor, crushed maize, sea buckthorn seeds and fruits, limestone powder, vitamins…
Results and impact
The objective of the project is to build 15 poultries within 4 years.
It aims to:
- Enable farmers to set up and run a poultry business
- Increase owner's family income by 30%
- Improve owners and other villagers health by increasing the protein content of the food
Picture: Chickens in the attached green house
Picture: Poultry farm in Baroo (Kargil) in February 2007
Picture: Inside a rearing room