Cow Rearing For War Affected Families

Thank you to all our donors, we have met our fundraising goal.

WHY ARE WE DOING THIS?

There are currently no sustainable sources of income for families in Timbalee village, Mullaithivu District. As a result, families struggle to meet their daily needs for water & food, and exposed to the changing weather as they are living in temporary shelters. There is also no school in the village which means children have to walk long distances to the neighbouring village.

This project will provide 20 female headed families in Timbalee village with a hybrid cow and 12 months training on cattle management & business marketing. Twice a year the cattle will also receive free vaccination through the local agricultural department.

The project will reduce their food insecurity with the cow’s milk as a nutritious food source; the milk will also be sold in the market to earn an income. The income will allow them to weather proof their homes and provide bicycles for children’s daily travel. The project will also provide income generating opportunities for others in the community as the hybrid cow is expected to breed multiple calves over its lifetime.

THE BENEFITS

• Provides a nutritious food source for the families (5-6L milk per day)
• Provides families an income to meet basic needs like water, food and shelter. An expected income of 50,000-115,000 rupees per year
• Assist children’s education through purchase of bicycles for daily travels
• The project is replicable for others in the community as the hybrid cow will breed multiple calves over its lifetime

BACKGROUND

In September 2012 around 300 families were resettled from the Menik farm IDP camp to the village of Mallikaithivu in Mullituvu. The village was destroyed during the war and as a consequence, there are very few opportunities for livelihoods. Families are unable to fulfil even basic needs such as food, water and shelter. With Palmera’s support, the 20 beneficiaries can begin earning an income to fulfil these daily needs.

Palmera has recently worked with the Centre for Child Development in Mullituvu, to provide banana plants, water pumps and farming equipment to 20 families when they first returned to the village in early 2013. These families have started selling their bananas in the market and earning an income.

OUR PARTNER

The Centre for Child Development is a local NGO that works towards improving the lives of children in Sri Lanka. The organization has experience and expertise in working with communities that have resettled in Sri Lanka. As noted above, Palmera has worked successfully with CFCD in the past and looks forward to working together again.