Supporting Agency: Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Mission (FELM), Finland
Implementing Partners: Animal Health Training and Consultancy Service (AHTCS), Nepal
Duration: 2007-2010
Theme: Animal Health and Husbandry Practices
Sub Sectors: Community Engagement, Livelihood Promotion, Women’s participation
Catchment areas: Chitwan, Dhading, Kaski, Nuwakot, Palpa, Tanahun
Project Description
Animal Healthcare and Management Project (AHMP)
The AHMP was the leading project of the organization. With the extensive implementation of this project, AHTCS became rooted in 52 districts of Nepal and gained recognition as a livestock-based national-level development organization among various government organization, international non-governmental organizations (INGOs), non-governmental organization (NGOs) and community-based organizations. The main focus of this project was to overcome the problem of low productivity of animal health care and management, especially in the rural areas of Nepal. This project aimed to improve this by providing health and management-based training courses to the farmers as well as organizing awareness campaigns. AHTCS implemented this project throughout the country in cooperation and coordination with other partners. Training of front-line Village Animal Health Worker (VAHWs), who provides animal health services at grassroots level and monitoring and supervision of the trained VAHWs were the main components of this project.
The AHMP reached and impacted the lives of 1652 households and 1116small scale farmers in the rural remote communities. By establishing and strengthening the animal healthcare system through capacity building and mobilization of technical workforce (VAHWs) as well as encouraging farming communities to adopt good husbandry practices, the initiative contributed to the overall improvement of the living standards of the farmers and ensured livelihood resilience.
Key Interventions and Impact:
- The production and mobilization of 321 VAHWs to ensure accessible and quality veterinary services in the communities.
- 124 VAHWs were further trained in Improved Animal Management and Facilitation training.
- 250 farmers were provided with Goat Raising and Management training to promote good husbandry practices.
- 5,688 animals received need-based medical care.
- Initiated the formation of the National VAHWs Network, known as Village Animal Health Worker’s Unity Forum Nepal (VAHW-FUN), which has been based and registered in Pokhara-18, Kaski.
- 84% of the trained VAHWs are actively providing animal healthcare services in the communities.