The Rotary Club of Poona North has embarked on a significant initiative to empower rural communities, recently donating 400 cows to marginal lady farmers in Pune District. The Cow Donation Project, a collaborative effort involving 40+ Rotary clubs from Pune District and Taiwan, aims to provide sustainable livelihood opportunities for small and marginal farmer families across 40 villages in economically weaker sections.
Kumar Shinagare, Past President of Rotary Club of Poona North, shared insights into the project, emphasizing its role in transforming the lives of rural families. “This initiative, with a project budget of Rs 1.60 Crores, translates to Rs 40,000 per cow. The objective is to create sustainable livelihoods for marginalized communities and enhance their economic well-being,” Shinagare stated in a press release.
Donating Cows Since 2005: The Rotary Club of Poona North has a rich history of contributing to the community, having donated 1200 cows since 2005 using Global Grant Funds. This substantial effort has resulted in a cow population exceeding 6000 and a bull population exceeding 2000. The increased milk production has led to the establishment of more than 200 milk collection centers, with 27 dairies collecting milk daily from these centers.
Overseas sponsors from the Netherlands, the USA, and Taiwan have been instrumental in supporting these projects, contributing to the overall prosperity of the region.
Objectives of the Project:
- Increase Milk Productivity up to 10 Lit/day/cow (3000 lit/day).
- Increase income up to Rs 8K PM/Cow/Family (Rs 21 L/PM).
- Multiply Cow Population Exponentially (1 Calf /18 months).
- Train the community in Cow Breeding and Milk Business.
- Make the project a catalyst for prosperity in the region.
Project Activities: The comprehensive project activities included socio-economic surveys, beneficiary selection, open discussions with village management, pre-project training, exposure visits, selection of cow vendors, cow management and nutrition training, and continuous monitoring until project completion.
Types of Cows Purchased: The Rotary Club sourced cows of various breeds, including HF (Holstein Frisian), Gir, and Deshi, from cow markets in Loni (Sangamner) and Dhule.
Impact Assessment and Execution: DISHA (Development Initiative for Self Help & Awakening), serving as a Co-operating Organization, executed most of the projects in the field. With extensive experience since the year 2000, DISHA played a crucial role in ensuring the successful implementation of the Cow Donation Project.
The Rotary Club of Poona North continues to demonstrate its commitment to community welfare through innovative projects that create lasting positive impacts.
