Himachal TGT Science Teacher Sonika champions smart dairy farming, proving that efficiency and technology can revolutionize rural agribusiness.
Sonika, a TGT Science teacher in Ghumarwin, Himachal Pradesh, is redefining economic self-reliance by seamlessly integrating her academic career with a successful, modern dairy enterprise. Her journey, which began modestly in 2019 with a single Jersey cow, now involves a picture of rural modernity, featuring six cows and one heifer. Sonika utilizes a “smart work” approach, employing a modern milking machine, a chaff cutter for fodder, and maintaining regular consultation with veterinarians, running her farm with the precision one would expect from a science lesson.
This calculated and efficient routine demonstrates that commercial dairy farming need not be a “back-breaking chore.” Sonika and her husband manage the farm with a clear, time-defined schedule: a crucial morning shift from 5:30 to 7:00 AM, and an evening shift lasting only about an hour and a half. This streamlined system proves that with family support and the strategic use of technology, the enterprise is completely manageable alongside her full-time teaching profession, creating a powerful model for dual-income generation in rural communities.
The farm’s operational efficiency translates directly into impressive dairy economics. The operation now produces approximately 57 liters of milk daily, which, when sold at ₹65 per liter, results in a robust gross monthly income of nearly ₹1.1 lakh. After all expenses are accounted for, Sonika takes home a significant net profit of around ₹74,000. This makes her venture a highly profitable business and a sustainable model for financial independence, validating her assertion that even starting with “one or two cows can empower a woman or a young person economically.”
Sonika’s success is also underpinned by the supportive government framework for the Indian dairy sector. She credits the state government’s Minimum Support Price (MSP) for milk as a “game-changer” that ensures a stable and remunerative market for her product. Complementary initiatives, highlighted by the Assistant Director of the Animal Husbandry Department, include a ₹3 per liter incentive for milk sold to registered societies and a ₹2 per liter subsidy for milk transport over two kilometers, alongside the formation of 15 new milk producer societies in Bilaspur.
The Deputy Commissioner of Bilaspur, Rahul Kumar, reinforced the government’s commitment, urging more people to explore dairy farming as a “tremendous opportunity to strengthen the rural economy.” Ultimately, Sonika’s message to the region’s youth and women—to “Do smart work, become self-reliant”—blends her scientific knowledge with the art of entrepreneurship, creating an inspiring formula for local empowerment and sustainable agricultural development right at home.
Source: Get the full story of Sonika’s inspiring journey on Himachal Headlines.
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