Why Sustainable Pashu Sakhies are essential for boosting the Small Livestock Value Chain in India?
- Global Services TGT
- Feb 19
- 2 min read
India’s small livestock sector- comprising goats, sheep, backyard poultry, and other small ruminants- plays a crucial role in poor rural livelihoods. However, many small-scale farmers struggle with disease management, mortality, low productivity, lack of quality inputs, and limited market access. Pashu Sakhi, a community-based livestock extension worker emerged as a vital force in bridging these gaps. Making them sustainable is key to strengthening the small livestock value chain.
Strengthening Last-Mile Veterinary & Extension Services: Small livestock farmers, particularly in remote areas, lack timely access to first-aid veterinary care and advisory services. Pashu Sakhies are trained in primary animal healthcare, vaccination, deworming, and improved feeding practices, ensuring continuous and localized support to farmers. Their doorstep services reduce livestock mortality and morbidity, improving productivity and income.
Empowering Women and Enhancing Rural Livelihoods: The Pashu Sakhi model empowers poor rural women by creating income-generating opportunities in livestock service delivery. Women are natural caregivers to animals in rural households and their enhanced knowledge and imparted skill improves household-level livestock management. Sustainable livelihood through affordable and reasonable service fees, input supplies, and linkages to institutions ensures their long-term commitment.
Boosting Productivity and Market Linkages: Pashu Sakhies promotes improved breeding practices, better nutrition, and disease prevention strategies, leading to higher productivity and lower morbidity and mortality. They help organize farmers into producer groups, improving collective bargaining and access to input supplies. Connecting smallholders to organized markets ensures better price realization and minimizes exploitation by middlemen.
Climate Resilience and Sustainable Livestock Practices: Sustainable Pashu Sakhies promote climate-smart livestock-rearing practices such as fodder management, efficient water use, and disease surveillance. They play a crucial role in disseminating climate adaptation strategies and reducing risks from extreme weather events.
Reducing Public Health Risks and Promoting One Health Approach: Pashu Sakhies creates awareness about zoonotic diseases and biosecurity measures, reducing risks to both livestock and human health. By promoting proper vaccination and hygiene, they contribute to public health safety and reduce hazards at the community level.
For Pashu Sakhies to have a long-term impact, sustainability must be ensured through:
Institutional Support from government and development organizations to provide training, certification, and handholding.
Financial Incentives through service fees, counseling fees, livestock insurance facilitation, financial support for small-scale goat value enterprises, and integration with veterinary supply chains.
Capacity-building and digital tools to enhance their skills and service efficiency.
Market linkages to ensure steady demand for their services.
A well-supported Pashu Sakhi Model can revolutionize the small livestock value chain in India. By making their role financially viable and institutionally strong, we can create a supportive and sustainable ecosystem where smallholders thrive, rural women gain economic independence, and livestock productivity ultimately leading to the development of a stronger rural economy.
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