Source: ICSD, pictures taken during evaluation

Mid-Term Evaluation of SRIJAN DairySRIJAN (Self Reliant Initiatives through Joint Action), Dairy is an initiative beingsupported by the American India Foundation (AIF) in rain fed areas where there’sa presence of large vulnerable marginal and small farmers whose livelihood is atstake due to crop failure. AIF support NGOs who are experienced in developingsustainable business models to improve livelihoods of the marginal people andthe three year AIF grant agreement for promoting women controlled dairy businessin Tonk and Sagarhad completed two years of business. At this point AIF andSRIJAN decided to conduct a mid-term review with a view to know how the programhas worked and study its potential for scaling up. AIF engaged Intercooperation toundertake the mid-term evaluation.

Goal:The main purpose of undertaking this mid-course review was to examine theassumptions and practices that have worked from the point of view of womenproducers’ interest and have potential to scale up within Srijan and replicate toother geographies.Other objectives were:

∑a To assess achievements of the project with respect to the agreed deliverables.∑a To examine the project operations at milk collection and chilling level and

analyze their economics and viability.∑a To examine the economics of associated services provided to milk producers

such as microfinance, feed, veterinary, paravet, mineral mixture, azollademonstrations, breed improvement etc.

∑a To assess the market share in collection and marketing of milk, and viabilityand desirability of marketing channels.

∑a To compare the project assumptions and financials against the norms prevailingin the dairy business and explain the causes of deviations.

∑a To examine an organizational and institutional building process.

Interventions:A desk study of proposal, six monthly reports, special reports, newspaper reports,letter of appreciation, meeting minutes was undertaken. Analyzed financial reportsof federation and all its business verticals, analyzed the data provided by SRIJANon the SHGs, personal interactions with the team members, with the leaders andoffice bearers, focus group discussion with the SHG, cluster and federation membersand case studies. Meeting with other stakeholders – government officials, AIFofficials were undertaken and finally debriefing with the key staff of SRIJAN tovalidate the findings was initiated.

Achievements:The mid-term report indicated that there were several positive outcomes in thetwo-year AIF- SRIJAN dairy initiative. Of the two companies, Maitree has higherchances of reaching viability than Sagar Shree. It was indicated that productionhas become uneconomical due to high feeding costs and lack of systems to sellevening milk. The recommendation and way forward has been summed up in thereport.

Report:Mid Term Review of SRIJAN Dairy submitted to American India Foundation

For publications/reports – contact: info@intercooperation.org.in