Mobile learning for sustainable dairy farming
In Pudukkottai, a village nestled within South India’s Theni district, resides Mrs Saroja, a 57-year-old farmer and a member of a women’s self-help group (SHG). Her journey as a lifelong learner for over 13 years epitomises the transformative power of continuous education, particularly in bolstering self-sustenance and economic resilience.
Mrs Saroja’s primary venture is backyard dairy farming – which she embarked upon in 2009 with a modest loan of 50,000 rupees procured through her SHG from the local branch of the Indian Bank. The loan facilitated the acquisition of two cows and a pushbutton phone. The latter unlocked the doors to a mobile learning programme that significantly bridged her knowledge gap in dairy management, enabling her to succeed and repay the loan ahead of the stipulated five-year period.
Presently, Mrs Saroja’s thriving backyard dairy comprises seven cows, yielding an average of 20 litres of milk per cow daily. This translates to a monthly income of approximately USD 230 per cow and an impressive annual income of approximately USD 2,700 per cow. Given the income levels in the local economy, this return can be considered well above the poverty line.
COL’s NGO partner, Vidiyal, facilitated the loan and the mobile learning process. The programme, which delivers daily voice messages, has been pivotal in imparting knowledge on diverse aspects of dairy management – from maintaining bovine health to adapting feeding regimes for optimal milk yield and adopting traditional treatment methods.
Mrs Saroja’s narrative accentuates the profound impact of mobile learning for enhancing agricultural practices and, by extension, livelihoods. Her tale is a resounding testament to how the synergy of communal trust, financial credibility and the indomitable spirit of lifelong learning can foster successful dairy enterprises and improve livelihoods.
