Pro-Poor Livestock Policy Initiative

A Living from Livestock

Research Report
RR Nr. 04-03; December 2004

Para-veterinary Training Programmes

in Andhra Pradesh
N.S.R. Sastry and S. Ramalinga Raju

1. Introduction

This report is a part of the PPLPI-CALPI Government of Andhra Pradesh (GoAP) initiative to
improve livestock service delivery by analyzing and coming to a better understanding of the
performance of the para-veterinarians in Andhra Pradesh with a view to enhancing their
performance through restructuring of the training programme(s). In this context, the objective of
the current study was ‘to develop a clear understanding on the training provided to para-
veterinarians and para-veterinary workers by various agencies including the deficiencies and
gaps in training, if any.’

For the purpose of this study, a para-veterinary worker or a village-based livestock service
provider (VLSP) is defined as a community-based or private village level worker trained to liaise
between livestock owners and veterinarians, besides him/herself being able to provide artificial
insemination (AI), basic veterinary, and preventive health services to the village livestock in the
village itself.

The study aimed to provide the following information on the para-veterinary training programmes
offered in Andhra Pradesh:

• Overview and description of the main training programmes

• Assessment of the programmes
• Service delivery by the para-veterinarians
• Suggestions for improvement of the training programmes

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2. Methods

In order to achieve the above objective, a comprehensive list of all organizations providing
training to para-veterinarians in all the sectors in Andhra Pradesh was prepared. Thirty-three
organizations were identified and sent a mail questionnaire seeking information on various
aspects of their training programmes.

The information collected via questionnaire was supplemented by visits to some of the
organisations and interviews of staff as well as through the review of relevant documents from
other sources such as the GoAP Animal Husbandry Department (AHD).

3. Results

The response rate to the questionnaire was above 60%. Twenty-six training programmes were
thereby identified, 23 of which were provided by government and quasi-government
organizations. Clearly, AHD is the main training agency for para-veterinarians in Andhra
Pradesh, having a systematic approach at planning, curriculum building and implementation of
para-veterinary training programmes to meet its own requirements and those of other
government and bilateral development projects in the state.

The three non-governmental programmes were organized by the NGOs Rayalaseema Sewa
Samithi (RASS), Anthra, and JK Trust. These NGOs generally have training programmes
tailored to meet their specific needs.

Training Programmes on Offer

As the main objective of this study was to understand the training programmes for animal health
workers providing services in the villages, long-term courses (1 to 2 years) were not further
considered in this study. The key training programmes identified were:

• Gopalamitra programme, offered by the Andhra Pradesh Livestock Development Agency

(APLDA), focusing on cattle breeding through doorstep Al, fodder development, and calf
rearing.
• Sanghamitra programme for veterinary first aid, preventive vaccination and livestock
extension. These Sanghamitras are expected to work in the Velugu Programme – AP Rural
Livelihoods Project. However, they are not practically working now. The few Sanghamitras
approached by the Study Team did not provide further insights saying that they are not able
to work.

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• Woman Poultry Health Worker programme specializing in marketing network and

vaccination. These are trained to work in the Velugu Programme – AP Rural Livelihoods
Project. However, the Study Team could not locate even a single woman poultry health
worker and AHD personnel informed that they are not able to work currently.
• Sheep Extension Worker programme in Nalgonda district, implemented with the help of
ISNRMPA, Hyderabad, specializing in sheep development, rotation of breeding rams, and
sheep vaccination.
• AI Technician programme of the NGO BAIF in Mahabubnagar and Ananthapur districts and
of the NGO JK Trust in Anantapur district.
• Women Village Health Worker programmes of the NGO RASS, working in a limited area in
two Mandals of Chittoor district amongst women self help groups (SHG) as a sort of
employee of RASS, and the
• Women Village Health Worker programme of the NGO Girijana Deepika, trainees of which
are trained by the NGO Anthra, Hyderabad. Girijana Deepika workers work in a tribal area of
the Rampachodavaram Mandal of East Godavari district. Some information on their training
could be obtained from NGO Anthra and on their performance from farmers of the region.

The Gopalamitra programme developed by APLDA is the most widely taught course for para-
veterinary training in Andhra Pradesh. This course is also used by some NGOs, development
projects and dairy cooperatives either in full or in part to upgrade skills of their own village-based
workers. For example, the Gopalamitra programme of the JK Trust and the Velugu programme
organized for the World Bank development projects are based on the Gopalamitra programme.
However, the NGO Anthra develops specific courses to meet its requirements.

Characteristics of the Training Programmes on Offer

Admission Criteria: Selection criteria for Gopalamitra and allied courses are 10th class pass.
However, in practice candidates with lower and/or higher than required qualification (some even
post-graduates) attended the courses. For the Woman Poultry Extension Workers training
programme the minimum qualification is set as the 7th class.

Training frequency: At least one course of 1 to 4 months duration is organized each year by
the designated regional animal husbandry training centres. Otherwise the state organizations
conduct 3 training programmes a year on average. Out of the 454 trainees per year, only about
9% were females. The NGO Anthra conducted 6 training courses where the number of trainees
were 123, 40% of which were women, while all 12 trainees in the one time para-veterinary
training course of the NGO RASS were women.

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Coverage: In case of government organizations, coverage was the territory

(state/district/block/village) for which the organizations are mandated.

Training Cost: Total training cost for the four-month Gopalamitra training programme was
around Rs. 19,500. Anthra’s costs varied between Rs. 120 and Rs.300 per trainee per day
depending on lodging and boarding costs. Anthra uses a graded system of charging for the
training programme depending on the ability and willingness to pay. The duration of their
programmes varied between 20 and 35 days.

Trainers: Most training organizations generally utilize in-house trainers, almost invariably
veterinarians. Out of 26 organizations/programmes considered, 22 used in-house trainers
whereas 6 organisations hired consultants.

Certification: For all the courses considered in this study, only a Certificate of Participation is
given. No certificate is given for courses of 1 to 7 day duration.

Course Content

In terms of the content of course work, the emphasis seems to be on large ruminants (AI), to
some extent on small ruminants, but much less on poultry, and negligible on pigs. The reason
for this is that the Gopalamitra, the most widespread and common course focuses on AI in cattle
and buffaloes. The NGOs do teach ‘other’ topics such as ‘gender issues’, evaluation, and herbal
medicines. Nevertheless, AI is the most popular subject, while livestock management, health
care subjects, extension and fodder management rank a distant second.

Suggestions for Improving the Training Programmes

We also solicited suggestions for improving the training programmes. The suggestions included:
a) provision of adequate budget, staff, infrastructure, and facilities (laboratory and ‘sheds’ for
conducting practical training) at the training institution; b) advance planning of the actual conduct
of given training programmes and educational tours; c) timely selection of trainees, and; d)
prompt payment of travel costs to trainees, honorarium to trainers and funds for providing
refreshments to trainees.

Service Delivery by Para-veterinarians (Trainers’ Views)

Location of service delivery: Most organizations reported that the para-veterinarians deliver
services both at the farmers’ doorstep and at a central point. Out of the 23 organizations that
responded to this question, 14 reported providing services at both locations, while 7

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organizations provided services only at the doorstep and 2 reported that service delivery was
exclusively at a fixed central point.

Out of the 21 government organizations, 3 operated in peri-urban areas, while 18 organizations

covered backward and low potential areas. The NGOs reported providing services mostly in dry
and disadvantaged areas.

Cost recovery: Not much information could be collected on user charges. Regarding AI, the
NGOs BAIF and JKT charge for providing the service in the areas of their operation although
these areas of operation are relatively small. Apart from that, none of the NGOs charge user
fees for other services.

Over and above this, the NGOs BAIF, RASS and JKT pay their para-workers a monthly
allowance of Rs. 1,500 to 2,500 and some part of the user charges. The Gopalamitras, on the
other hand, collect Rs. 40 to 50 (Average Rs. 35) from farmers when they provide services at the
doorstep and Rs. 20 when provided at a central place. Veterinary aid at doorstep may yield
around Rs. 20. Out of the user charges collected for AI, Rs. 20 is paid to APLDA towards cost of
materials. It appears that the amounts mentioned above are as and when paid by some one.
Actual payment could be moderate in rich delta districts but the payment for these services could
be very difficult for poor farmers of disadvantaged communities, especially the keepers of small
ruminants.

Problems with service delivery: Most of the organizations (17 out of 23) reported para-
veterinarians using antibiotics, which is beyond their brief. Other undesirable acts observed were
- carrying out surgery (3 out of 23), wrong doses (9 out of 23), wrong techniques (9 out of 23),
and wrong care of equipment (7 out of 23).

4. Summary and Conclusions

Some salient features of VLSP training in Andhra Pradesh can be summarized as follows:

• In general, training is open to candidates with all socio-economic backgrounds, though those
belonging to weaker and poor sections of rural areas were the main trainees.
• The programmes are generally not targeted for providing services to specific agro-climatic
areas or socio-economic target groups, though some were organized especially for women,
tribal and marginalized communities and drought-prone areas. Such programmes are
generally organized by voluntary organisations.
• Need for the service, determined mandate and, in a few cases, demand by farmers are the main
reasons for the organizations to undertake training of para-veterinarians.

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• Courses mainly focus on large ruminants and the provision of AI, partially on small ruminants
while poultry and pigs are largely neglected.
• Supervision, monitoring and evaluation of performance of newly trained field workers are
some of the aspects that need vast improvement.

From the information available to us, it appeared that the organisations in Andhra Pradesh are
reasonably well endowed to organize VLSP training, though there is always scope for
improvement. Laboratories and sheds for conducting practical training with live animals seem to
be the most important thing to be improved uniformly at all places.

Overall, from the discussions with field staff and senior officials of AHD, it seems that, at present,
the Gopalamitra is ‘no one’s baby’ and is somewhat hanging in the air. He/she has difficulties in
earning a living, being taken to task for exceeding his/her brief, while no institution including
APLDA comes to rescue in difficult professional situations.

From the many suggestions coming from actual organizers of training programmes, however, it
seems that once the courses are decided at higher level, the organizers are somewhat left to
fend for themselves in their training task. This calls for greater monitoring and guidance by the
higher authorities of the para-veterinary training programme.

5. Contacts and Further Information

This research report is an excerpt from the full report submitted to PPLPI and CALPI. For
additional information, please contact:

Vinod Ahuja
Indian Institute of Management
Vastrapur, Ahmedabad-380 015, India
Email: [email protected]

Abraham K. Joseph
Capitalization of Livestock Programme India (CALPI)
Sarvodaya Enclave, New Delhi, India
Email. [email protected]

For more information please visit the PPLPI website at: http://www.fao.org/ag/pplpi.html