Life has never been easy for Nirmala B.K., a 35-year-old single mother from the Dalit community of Belaka Municipality–1, Baluwatar. To provide for her family, she worked as a sharecropper and raised one mother pig, one buffalo, and five local hens. Although livestock was an important part of her daily life, she relied only on traditional practices and did not know livestock farming could become a profitable enterprise. Raising pigs and poultry was simply a way to survive, not a pathway to a better future.
Everything changed for Nirmala when she participated in the four-day Vocational Training on Pig and Poultry Farming supported by dZi Foundation, in partnership with a local NGO, Peace Society Centre. Nirmala learned how to identify improved breeds, prepare balanced feed using locally available ingredients in the right proportions, design proper pig sheds and poultry coops, manage animal nutrition, prevent diseases through vaccination and biosecurity, and maintain business and financial records. Moreover, a visit to successful livestock farms allowed her to see what was possible and showed her that small-scale farmers like herself could build a sustainable business with the right knowledge and determination.
The training did more than just improve Nirmala's technical skills; it transformed the way she envisioned her future. For the first time, she began to see pig and poultry farming not only as a means of feeding her family but as a pathway toward entrepreneurship. Today, she has started applying improved management practices to her existing animals and planning to gradually expand her farm into a sustainable enterprise.
"Before the training, I only knew the traditional way of raising pigs and chickens,” Nirmala shares. “Today, I know how to prepare balanced feed, choose improved breeds, and build a proper pig shelter. More importantly, I have learned that livestock farming can become a business. This training has given me hope and the confidence to dream bigger, not only for myself but for my children. I now believe that one day I can become a successful entrepreneur."
For Nirmala, the training was more than learning new techniques; it was the beginning of a new journey. She was also selected for dZi’s micro-enterprise program through which she participated in financial literacy and business development training and recently established an agri-business named ‘Baluwatar Pashu and Krishi Firm’ where she rears pigs and local chicken.
With her newly registered firm, armed with knowledge, confidence, and a clear vision, she hopes to manage her business more effectively and professionally. She is looking forward to building stronger trust with her customers, increasing her income, and expanding her business in the years ahead.
Nirmala is taking steady steps toward building a sustainable livestock enterprise and creating a brighter future for her and her family.