Women’s Collective Venture towards Revival of Animal Husbandry for Livelihood Security – A Case Study from a Village of Kutch District

Traditionally, livestock rearing or animal husbandry is considered one of the major sources of livelihood for the rural poor, especially in the semi-arid regions of the country. It contributes towards household income significantly and also supports food security, improved nutrition, and insurance at the household level. However, sustaining animal husbandry has become challenging for communities in arid and semi-arid zones due to a precarious water situation, inaccessibility of fodder, inadequate health facilities, lack of market and appropriate technology. A combination of all these factors often force poor households to look for alternative livelihood options such as migration, local wage labour etc, leaving behind their traditional occupations. Moreover, in such situations, women are the worst affected, posing a greater challenge.