Journey to Sustainable Livelihood through Goat Farming

Reviving Livelihoods Through Goat Farming in Bhakat Gaon

Bhakat Gaon, a remote village nestled along the flood-prone banks of the Kumitia River in Assam’s Dhemaji district, has long struggled with recurring floods that have damaged farmland, displaced families, and disrupted livelihoods. In response to this ongoing crisis, Gramin Vikas Trust (GVT), with support from HDFC Bank under the Parivartan Initiative, launched a focused goat farming intervention under Project P0855 during the financial year 2024–25. A 10-member group of marginal farmers and daily wage earners from the village received 12 goats (10 female, 2 male), along with training in scientific livestock care, a raised semi-concrete goat shelter for flood protection, and regular veterinary support in partnership with Lakhimpur College of Veterinary Science. The group contributed an additional 10 goats and adopted a system of collective management guided by local byelaws. Within 8–10 months, the beneficiaries began earning ₹3,500–₹4,500 per quarter from the sale of goat kids and manure, with projected annual incomes of ₹15,000–₹18,000 per household. This initiative not only revived income sources but also promoted climate resilience and reduced dependency on unstable wage labor. The same goat farming model has also been successfully replicated in other flood-affected villages such as Chakamara (Borchuk), No. 3 Kaitong, and Mechaki Tongani—benefiting individuals like Hiranya Bhuyan, Apun Payun, and Parinita Doley respectively—demonstrating a scalable and sustainable rural development approach. This initiative under HDFC Parivartan stands as a compelling example of how strategic CSR support combined with community ownership can transform vulnerable communities into resilient and self-sustaining ecosystems.