Saroja grows her herd of goats slowly but steadily

While visiting borrowers in the village of Samayapuram, I had the pleasure of meeting Saroja. A little over a year ago, Saroja had learnt that she could obtain an unsecured microloan for the purpose of starting her own small scale business. She wasted no time in gathering four other women to form a joint liability group (JLG) and obtaining a microloan. On receiving the sum of Rs.15,000 she purchased two choice goats. “I purchased a male and a female; two kids were also born in the last year,” she informed me in her mild mannered tone. Typically, a female goat gives birth to one goat every year and Saroja hopes that she will be able to grow her herd over the years. “I have not sold any of the goats yet; I am waiting for them to grow bigger when they will fetch a better price,” she said. With the local festival just round the corner, the demand for goats would increase and it would be a good opportunity for Saroja to make a nice profit. “A goat will fetch anywhere between Rs.3000 and Rs.5000, depending on its size and weight,” Saroja explained.

Saroja decided to start a goat-rearing microenterprise as she wanted a source of income to keep her family from falling into financial strain. Saroja’s husband is deceased and with the help of some casual work and the support of her sons, she is able to make ends meet every month. Saroja’s elder son is married while her younger son who is unmarried lives with her. With age reducing her capacity to perform the work that she used to as a labourer, she hopes that an entrepreneurial journey will bring her some financial security.