“Environmental Improve Through Agriculture and Animal

Husbandry”

Environmental conservation constitutes an important part of the NGO’s development

program. They cares for environment and the earth in all its activities, and endeavors to
improve it through many approaches such as improved animal management, biogas,
plantation, maintaining hygiene and sanitation, reduced/no use of pesticides and chemicals
in agriculture, etc. Care for environmental aspects result directly in clean and green
surrounding and better and human and livestock health. One of the important efforts made
for improving the environment is training on ‘Improving the environment’ and ‘improved
animal management’ as part of the Cornerstones which raises the awareness of the
participants and in turn they practice it through different innovative activities. The project
also supports activities and inputs for fodder forage and fruit saplings plantation, biogas
installation, improved cooking stoves, hygienic toilets as appropriate, organic kitchen
gardening, etc.
Raising ruminant animals without proper plans for nutrition, feeding, management, and
waste-disposal, are liable to pollute the environment. Feeding excess nitrogen than required
or excessive amounts of protein or imbalanced diet with degradable and undegradable
proteins and other nutrients may increase nitrogen excretion in feces or urine. Nitrogen is of
primary environmental concern because of losses of ammonia in the air and nitrate
contamination of surface and ground waters. Biogas supports to protect nitrate leaching to
the ground and protects water, methane emission to the atmosphere, and provides better
organic manure for agriculture, and clean energy for lighting and cooking, which in turn also
conserves nearby forest by reducing their dependency on it for fuel woods.
Organic kitchen gardening is one of this programme core of project. They receive and
practice at their homestead, and some goes beyond to commercial scale. They are also
given orientation on preparing organic manure and pesticides from local materials, and
input supports like vegetable seeds are provided to inculcate a habit of producing and
eating vegetables at home. Some groups are preparing organic pesticides using animal
urine and special types of herbs, and practicing vermiculture to make compost from
different kinds of degradable wastes.

1
Women empowerment

Women groups of this project show strong signs of empowerment that are clearly visible in
the way they present their concerns and solutions. They have increased their self confidence
and leadership capacity.

Social harmony

This has recognized the importance of empowering poor communities for making them self-
reliant and uplifting sustainably, and has chosen livestock based incentive to enter into the
community. Project activities and especially the Cornerstone training is found more effective
in shaping people’s attitude and behavior which are reflected in a friendly social
environment wherein everyone lives with respect and dignity, in less or no discrimination
against caste or gender, and in better family environment.
Conclusion
This program is effective in alleviating hunger and poverty among project participating
families. Improvement in livestock production practices are visible in project implemented
areas which is also learnt and practiced by nearby farmers. Implementation of environment,
women empower health worker etc. generated employment opportunities for rural
communities. Fodder plantation in farm and communal lands, incorporation of nutritious
fodder and forage for animals feeding, vegetable cultivation all proved sustainability,
resource conservation increased in farm incomes.