In Upper Landusahi, a small village in Odisha’s Laxmipur Gram Panchayat, 45-year-old Keshab Bhuyan and his wife, 38-year-old Pramila, spent years rearing goats to get by. But each monsoon brought setbacks. The animals would fall ill in the damp, infections spread quickly, and many did not survive. Most years, the couple spent more on medicines than they earned from selling the goats.

“We used to feel helpless,” Keshab said. “The goats would get drenched, catch infections. We lost many during the rains.”

In 2023, with support from Gram Vikas, they built a proper shed. The structure was basic but carefully designed, with raised flooring, ventilation, and sloped drainage to keep the goats dry. It made a difference. The shed was part of the Water Secure Gram Panchayat Programme’s focus on helping small and marginal farmers strengthen their livelihoods through farming and allied activities.

“Since we built the shed, we’ve hardly lost any goats,” said Keshab. “We don’t spend on medicines anymore. They’re healthier and stronger now.”

Not just livestock

The couple now care for 15 goats. Each one is named and recognised—Soni, Semoti, Padmavathi. “They respond when we call,” said Pramila. “We name them the day they are born.”

What was once a fragile source of income is now more stable. When needed, they can sell a goat to meet urgent expenses. Recently, Keshab sold a 35-kilogramme animal for ₹25,000. “It’s like having an ATM,” he said.

Traders from Andhra Pradesh and Srikakulam now visit the village regularly. While middlemen still take a share, the prices are fair enough that Keshab feels no need to look elsewhere.

Low-cost farming, better yields

The goats also supply the couple with a steady stream of manure—about eight kilogrammes each day. Stored and composted, it is used on their fields. “We hardly use chemical fertilisers now,” said Keshab. “The soil stays fertile.”

With the monsoon approaching, they are preparing to reinforce the shed. Their goats are vaccinated three times a year and given vitamin supplements as needed. “Goat rearing has given us a sense of security,” said Pramila. “We don’t feel vulnerable anymore.”

Neighbours have started to visit, asking how to build similar sheds and take better care of their animals. Keshab hopes to expand their herd in the future, if more support becomes available.

The shed didn’t solve everything. But it did enough. The goats are healthy, the income is steady, and the household no longer lives with the same sense of risk.