Nourishing Livelihoods

Suniti Naik’s Journey from Novice to Goat Rearing Expert with Mineral Cakes

In the village of Nafri, nestled within Mayurbhanj district, a remarkable transformation has taken place in the life of Suniti Naik, a member of the Maha shakti Self-Help Group (SHG). Just a few years ago, Suniti knew little about goat rearing, and the health of her herd was a constant source of stress. Frequent losses plagued her family’s income, with 4 out of every 10 goats dying annually due to preventable illnesses. Today, Suniti stands as an example of resilience and learning, having turned her livelihood around through the training and support provided by Nydhee, an organization dedicated to empowering rural women.

Her story is not just about improved goat care—it’s also about innovation and how a simple initiative, the mineral cake, has dramatically improved the health of goats in her village, ensuring stronger, healthier livestock and enhanced livelihoods for SHG members.

The Struggles of Early Goat Rearing

Before joining the Mahashakti SHG and working with Nydhee, Suniti’s situation was one of uncertainty and loss. Her family depended on goat rearing as a source of income, but the frequent death of goats due to preventable diseases made it difficult to sustain a living. With no knowledge of vaccinations, nutrition, or best practices for caring for goats, Suniti’s hopes of improving her family’s finances seemed out of reach. Each year, nearly half of her goats would fall ill or die due to infections and poor health, further deepening her sense of helplessness.

Gaining Confidence through Nydhee’s Training Programs

Everything began to change when Suniti joined the Mahashakti SHG and participated in Nydhee’s training programs. For the first time, she received hands-on guidance on the importance of goat vaccinations, proper nutrition, and health management. The initial trainings, though challenging, helped her grasp the fundamentals of goat rearing, and as the months went by, her confidence grew.

“The repeated trainings made me understand that goats are like us humans,” Suniti recalls. “They need nutrition, health care, and proper attention.” This realization was transformative. Equipped with this knowledge, Suniti began practicing what she had learned, ensuring her goats were properly vaccinated and cared for. Over time, the results were dramatic. Where previously she had lost many goats to illness, she now boasts a healthy herd of 25 goats.

The Power of Mineral Cakes: A Simple but Effective Solution

One of the most significant initiatives Suniti and her SHG embraced was the preparation of mineral cakes, a simple yet effective solution for providing year-round nutrition to goats. The idea of mineral cakes was introduced during one of Nydhee’s training sessions, where SHG members learned that goats require additional nutrients, particularly during maternity periods and the growth stages of young kids.

The process of making these mineral cakes is straightforward yet powerful. Suniti, along with the 12 other women in her group, prepares the cakes using locally available ingredients—red soil, salt, wheat flour, jaggery, and a touch of lime. These are mixed together into a dough, shaped into cakes, and dried in the sun. The cakes are then fed to the goats, typically by hanging them from the roof of the goat shed. Each cake is designed with a hole in the centre, allowing it to be suspended, making it accessible for the goats to reach.

This method offers multiple benefits. As Suniti explains, “When the goats stretch their necks to reach the cakes, it helps strengthen their necks and backs. The cakes themselves provide essential nutrients, especially during maternity times, making the kids strong and healthy.” The cakes also ensure that the goats receive consistent nutrition, which has contributed to reduced mortality rates and improved overall health.

Building Livelihoods through Collective Action

For Suniti, the mineral cake initiative is more than just a tool for improving goat health. It is also an example of how collective action within the SHG can lead to lasting change. The 12 members of the Mahashakti SHG work together to produce these mineral cakes, an activity that not only strengthens their goats but also fosters a sense of collaboration and shared responsibility among the women. The community goat shed in Nafri, which Suniti and the other women use, has become a hub of activity, with the mineral cakes hanging as a testament to the group’s innovative approach to livestock care. Each goat consumes at least one mineral cake, ensuring they are well-nourished throughout the year.

Today, Suniti Naik is a confident and empowered woman, no longer dependent on outside help to keep her goats healthy. Through the training she received from Nydhee and the support of her fellow SHG members, she has become an expert in goat rearing, using simple yet effective practices like the mineral cakes to ensure her herd thrives. The anxiety of losing goats to preventable diseases is a thing of the past, replaced by the pride of being able to sustain a growing business and provide for her family.

Suniti’s story is a shining example of how knowledge, collective action, and innovative practices can transform lives. What began as a journey of uncertainty and struggle has turned into a powerful story of resilience, community, and hope for a better future.