From impoverished widow to successful goat farmer
Kelthan Village, India—At the age of 51, Parvati did not have many prospects; she was widowed, very poor and responsible for providing for herself and her two children. Her only resource, besides her strong determination, was her membership in a PRASAD Chikitsa Self Help Group (SHG). As it turned out, it was all she needed to make a courageous bid for self-empowerment and financial security.
Parvati explained, “After my husband’s death, I was very worried for my family. During that time, my SHG members gave me emotional support. Through the SHG I met the PRASAD Chikitsa staff and, with their guidance and support, I was able to take the decision to start my own business.”
With mentoring from PRASAD Chikitsa, Parvati’s Ganga Mahila Self Help Group negotiated a bank loan so the members could borrow funds to start small businesses. Parvati borrowed Rs. 25,500 (USD $560.) from the group and invested the money in 18 goats for milk and meat production.
Now, six years later, Parvati has repaid her loan in full. She is a successful goat farmer who expects her herd to number over 40 goats by the end of the summer! Parvati commented recently, “My family is now financially secure because of this business, which I started with the help of PRASAD. I really want to thank PRASAD and the members of my SHG.”
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Editor’s note: Want to learn more about the importance and rise of goat farming in India? Visit the Indian Council of Agriculture at http://www.icar.org.in/node/416 or the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development at http://www.nabard.org/modelbankprojects/animal_goat.asp
