The Livelihood Enhancement service focuses on the development of underprivileged communities by creating income generation opportunities, skills enhancement, and overall improvement in livelihood. Interest Free Loan Scheme (IFLS), Livelihood Services (Agriculture and Non-Agriculture), and Model Union Council Project fall under these services. In 2020-21, HANDS carried out 23 livelihood-related projects in 29 districts and 2,937 villages and urban settlements.
16
Projects
4983
Villages/Urban Settlement
25
Districts
4.39M
Covered Population
73
Tehsil
0.77M
Beneficiaries
268
Union Councils
Service Models
Livelihood Services for Agriculture
The agriculture model is one where natural resource management and work for food security is encouraged. Capacity building training is regularly carried out where HANDS also holds interventions for livestock. poultry, kitchen gardening, agri-input and fish farming and creates awareness about the transfer of assets, and promotes horticulture and social forestry. This component is very important to promote climate smart agriculture practices especially as the climate of thr world is changing.
Small Agri-farms
Small agriculture farms are developed for the promotion of NGM seeds, fruits, vegetables, and other cash crops for income generation. These farms are developed through farmer groups with the technical support of concerned government departments. All crops are cultivated as per defined agriculture standards. Farmers’ capacity is built through field activities and training for better land management increased agricultural output and marketing. Capital cost is provided by HANDS for cultivation and profit is distributed among the farmer groups on equal sharing.
Objectives:
The objectives of this model are to:
- Organize farmers’ groups.
- Promote NGM seeds.
- Build capacity of small farmers.
- Increase production of vegetables, fruits, wheat, sunflower, cotton and rice.
- Develop marketing strategy for sale of products.
Agri-Input
In this model the individual farmers are supported through provision of agri-inputs for cultivation according to the needs of the farmer. This support is provided to the poor small landholders, tenants, share-croppers (men/women) and female headed farming households to improve their agricultural production, food security and income generation. Support is provided to small land owners who have one or two acres of land.
Objectives:
The objectives of this model are to:
- Support small landholders/needy farmers for crop cultivation through provision of agri-input.
- Enhance crop productivity and thus income of farmers.
- Better management of agricultural resources.
- Improve quality of crops.
Agri-Kit for farmers
Agricultural tool kits are provided to those farmers and small landholders who need support for agricultural activities or who have lost their farming tools and other essential items during any disaster. These tool kits are designed in consultation with local farmers. A standard tool kit may include 02 hand hoes (khurpa), 02 sickles (daranti), 01 spade/shovel (belcha), 01 digger (kudal), 02 rake (kasala) and 01 axe (kulhari). Other items may include livestock water containers, feeding-boxes etc. These supports enable small landholders/poor farmers to effectively undertake their day-to-day agricultural work (weeding, hoeing, watering, managing kitchen gardens etc.).
Objectives:
The objectives of this model are to:
- Provide cultivation tools to the farmers and thusimprove their productivity and income.
- Produce better yield of timely crop.
- Enhance capacity of the farmers.
Provision of Livestock (Goats)
Rearing of livestock is the largest socioeconomic activity in rural areas adding status and prestige to the owners and making major contribution to their diet as well. Livestock refers to cattle, buffaloes, sheep, goats and poultry. In Pakistan, livestock activity is responsible for about half of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Almost all rural households have one or more of these animals. Livestock is a source of food (milk and meat) and cash returns to buy food and other household items. Goats are a very valuable resource of income for vulnerable and poor households, particularly during crisis.
Objectives:
The objectives of this model are to:
- Promote livestock rearing for income generation at
household level. - Increase milk and meat production for income generation of individuals.
- Vaccinate livestock to decrease the prevalence and incidence of diseases.
- To develop small livestock farms for income generation and food security.
Provision of Poultry Package
In this model, a package is provided to female members of the household who are involved in poultry business. Poultry is procured from local markets and vaccinated prior to distribution in the target communities to minimize the risk of bird flu outbreaks. Each beneficiary household is provided with 12 poultry birds (10 hens and 2 cocks) and 50 kg feed. This is expected to contribute towards food security and income generation for the beneficiaries by selling chickens and eggs in the local markets. Livelihood program provides feed and poultry vaccination to decrease the ratio of diseases and feed. Capacity building of the beneficiary is taken care of for the better management of maximum output from this support.
Objectives:
The objectives of this model are to:
- Promote poultry rearing for income generation at
household level with special focus on women. - Develop marketing strategy for sales.
- Vaccinate poultry to decrease prevalence and incidence of diseases.
- Develop small poultry farms at household level for income generation and food security
Kitchen Gardening
The model of kitchen gardening not only provides fresh vegetables and fruits for the families but could also generate income from the sale of kitchen garden products. This model can be practically applied in most of the rural households and is cost effective for rural communities. In this model HANDS provides support in the form of seeds, fertilizers and training of beneficiaries for gardening.
Objectives:
The objectives of this model are to:
- Enable families especially women to grow vegetables for dietary/nutritional requirement as well as income generation.
- Provide technical facilitation to beneficiaries for kitchen gardening.
- Facilitate with seeds and equipments etc. for better output from the garden.
- Train women of target area regarding effective growing of vegetables in the kitchen garden.
Small Poultry Hatchery
This model focuses on establishment of small poultry hatcheries or backyard poultry rearing. Small poultry hatchery unit is capable of hatching 50-100 eggs. The beneficiary is able to use and sell the hatched chickens in the neighborhoods. Livelihood Enhancement (on farm) has planned to establish a poultry hatchery unit at district level which is capable of hatching 10,000-15,000 eggs. The hatched chickens are distributed to poor women of the families in target area to use as food security and income generation. The beneficiaries are able to use and sell the grown up chickens in the nearby market. This mechanism involves training of beneficiaries, distribution of 10 chickens to each household for rearing, a poultry cage and one time supply of poultry feed to each family.
Objectives:
The objectives of this model are to:
- Promote poultry business at household level.
- Enhance income generation opportunities for rural women.
- Build capacity of women in home based business.
- Empower women through income generation opportunities.
- Provide access to chicken meat/eggs.
- Develop supply chain between market and beneficiaries.
Community Nurseries
The model of Community Nursery refers to social forestry. The aim is to maintain and improve ecological balance through forestation and contribute towards increasing environmental awareness along with income generation and employment. These nurseries are focused on fruits, vegetables, wood for fuel and plants for gardening. The aim of social forestry is to provide high quality seeds, plants to small and marginal farmers to increase agricultural productivity and farm earnings.
The enterprise uses a variety of activities to increase awareness about the necessity of planting trees and to increase the number and variety of trees for timber, fuel and fruit, not only to meet the basic needs but also to restore the ecological balance.
Objectives:
The objectives of this model are to:
- Develop habit for home nursery.
- Provide plantation of fruits and vegetables.
- Provide income generation opportunities from nursery.
- Improve environment.
Livelihood Services for Non Agriculture
This model focuses on the economic empowerment of women. The program provides vocational training and establishes community-based enterprises like small shops, chingchi rickshaws, carts to uplift the socio-economic status of vulnerable groups. The aim is to enable financial self-reliance, skill, and social security for women.
Interest Free Loan Scheme (IFLS)
Men and Women can take Interest-free loans to enable them to undertake productive activities such as starting mkroentetprises. The purpose is to improve rural and urban job creation and generate economic opportunities for Pakistani women and youth. This is an important community-building service that enables people to tackle the tough economic environment of the country.
Social Mobilization for Micro Finance
In this model Livelihood Enhancement program provides micro finance services to the communities in the form of groups. This is done with bank assistance to enhance capacity of group members by enabling them to identify, select, implement and manage their income generation activities. It is one of the best practices of social mobilization/group organization for poor community groups in accordance with bank policies.
Model Integrated Society for Action & Learning Initiative (MISALI)
The organization exhibits an excellent integrated development model comprising of key programs of Social Mobilization, Gender & Development, Human & Institutional Development, Monitoring Evaluation & Research, Information Communication Resource and Advocacy, Health Promotion, Education & Literacy, Livelihood Enhancement, Infrastructure Development Energy Wash & Shelter, Disaster Management and Social Marketing The target is to achieve 20,000 model communities both in urban and rural settlements. The goal of MISALI Model villages is to relieve them from poverty, illiteracy and illnesses.
Success Story
HANDS helped people to earn their livelihood, and they gave me a small sum of money…