18-Year-Old Scheduled Caste Girl’s Remarkable Success in Pig Farming

Namrata, an 18-year-old from a Scheduled Caste community, is defying stereotypes and achieving remarkable success in the world of pig farming. While pursuing her higher secondary education, she has shown immense determination and courtesy in her unconventional venture.

Namrata’s journey into pig farming began after she achieved an impressive matriculation grade of 87% in her 10th standard. Alongside her studies, she assisted her father with farming and nurtured her growing interest in pig rearing.

She currently manages a diverse stock of 2 boars, 4 sows, and 12 growers. During her academic breaks, she actively enhanced her practical knowledge by participating in training sessions at the ICAR-National Research Centre on Pig in Rani, Guwahati. These training sessions exposed her to scientific pig farming techniques and artificial insemination in pigs, effectively transforming her into a budding farm entrepreneur—a path not commonly chosen by her peers.

One of her standout skills is her ability to minimize input costs by using locally available resources such as rice polish and fish market waste to create pig feed. She ensures that these ingredients are properly prepared before being fed to her pigs. In a unique and innovative approach, Namrata has also integrated pig farming with Azolla cultivation, providing dried Azolla as a nutritional supplement to her pigs on a weekly basis.

Namrata’s dedication has been recognized, and she has received vital farm inputs, including a biosecurity kit and farm implements, through the SCSP (Scheduled Caste Sub-Plan) program of the ICAR-National Research Centre on Pig. Her commitment to regular disinfection and cleaning practices on her farm has effectively prevented the outbreak of African Swine Fever, a disease that has plagued neighboring farms.

Her future plans revolve around expanding her breeder facility, where she envisions the potential for increased income. In the previous year, she made an impressive income of Rs. 1,44,000 solely from selling 32 piglets. Additionally, she generated Rs. 60,000 by selling two finishers, bringing her total earnings to over Rs. 2 lakhs. These financial contributions have empowered her to make independent decisions, continue her studies, and excel in both education and pig farming. Namrata’s journey is a testament to her resilience and commitment to breaking barriers in her community.

Re-reported from the article originally published in The krishijagaran