THE INITIATIVE

• Innovative approach to popularise goat farming as a means of livelihood

THE BENEFICIARIES

• Over3,000 rural women spread across 50 panchayats in Kannur district, Kerala

THE CHALLENGE

• Financial illiteracy and financial exclusion
• Inability of women to move out for employment
• Lack of awareness about the true potential of goat-keeping

THE SOLUTION

• NABARD established ‘goat banks’ in association with the State Government of Kerala. In a Goat Bank, women are given goats instead of cash as loan, which they repay from sale of goats
• Rural women were organised into Joint Liability Groups (JLGs) and training provided to them on goat farming
• Convergence facilitated for subsidy and finance

THE IMPACT

• Goat farming now an established tool for economic empowerment and livelihood
• Goats are now de facto ATMs
• Project poised to graduate into a production company
• Women Empowered