# Conversion of the barn and technical advice: Strengthening the livelihood of the Yaksha Mandal

**URL:** https://grove.rainmatter.org/t/conversion-of-the-barn-and-technical-advice-strengthening-the-livelihood-of-the-yaksha-mandal/5260
**Category:** Livelihoods
**Created:** [September 28, 2026, 9:24am UTC](https://grove.rainmatter.org/t/conversion-of-the-barn-and-technical-advice-strengthening-the-livelihood-of-the-yaksha-mandal/5260 "2026-09-28T09:24:41Z")
**Posts on this page:** 1
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### Author: ![gram\_vikas](https://grove.rainmatter.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/g/b3f665/32.png) [@gram\_vikas](https://grove.rainmatter.org/u/gram_vikas)
#### Post date: [September 28, 2026, 9:24am UTC](https://grove.rainmatter.org/t/conversion-of-the-barn-and-technical-advice-strengthening-the-livelihood-of-the-yaksha-mandal/5260/1 "2026-09-28T09:24:41Z")

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**Yaksha Mandal, 62** , from Ikirima Old Street Village under Antaraba Gram Panchayat, Mohana Block, Gajapati District, lives with a family of six members. With limited agricultural land and inadequate income from farming to meet the family’s needs, he has been rearing goats and sheep for the past 10–12 years as an alternative livelihood.

 ![Screenshot 2026-09-28 144950](https://groveassets.rainmatter.org/original/2X/f/f2ec0e5339f5b55a8240e2e8be95ccd7f00c9fb6.jpeg)

However, traditional goat and sheep rearing practices limited the potential of the enterprise. Yaksha had limited knowledge about timely vaccination, appropriate feed, hygiene, and suitable housing conditions. The animals were kept in a conventional enclosure where they frequently came into contact with urine and unhygienic conditions, resulting in recurring diseases, poor growth, and limited financial returns.

Through awareness and livelihood support provided by **Gram Vikas** , Yaksha participated in sessions on improved goat and sheep rearing, animal health, nutrition, vaccination, housing, and disease prevention. With technical guidance, he converted his existing barn into a more suitable goat and sheep shed and received tin sheets to improve the structure. The improved housing helped keep the animals cleaner, drier, and safer, while reducing their exposure to disease.

The adoption of improved practices—including **timely vaccination, better feeding, improved housing, and regular animal care** —has contributed to better animal health and growth. This has gradually transformed goat and sheep rearing from a traditional supplementary activity into a more organised livelihood enterprise.

 ![Screenshot 2026-09-28 144959](https://groveassets.rainmatter.org/original/2X/c/cb4acc49d1453f19da68ec9bc9d65dd591a0fa4d.jpeg)

### **Livelihood and Enterprise Impact:**

The improvement in animal health has directly contributed to better economic returns. During the current year, Yaksha sold **15 goats at approximately ₹5,000 each, generating ₹75,000** , and **2 sheep at approximately ₹12,000 each, generating ₹24,000**. His total income from livestock sales during the year reached approximately **₹99,000**.

This income has strengthened the family’s livelihood and demonstrated the economic potential of improved small-ruminant rearing when supported by appropriate technical knowledge, animal health practices, and improved infrastructure.

> **“I learned how to construct a suitable goat shed and provide proper care to goats and sheep. Since adopting these practices, my animals are suffering from fewer diseases and are growing safely. The improved practices have helped me increase the income from goat rearing and strengthened my family’s livelihood.” – Yaksha Mandal**
> 
> ![Screenshot 2026-09-28 145014](https://groveassets.rainmatter.org/original/2X/7/76ecec5d5bd97b6dbe778b5d5ea027a450810ab0.jpeg)

The experience demonstrates how technical advice, improved livestock housing, animal health practices, and access to basic infrastructure can help smallholder families move from traditional livestock rearing towards a more productive and viable livelihood enterprise.