Shri Mukut Hazarika has become the most sought after Local Service Provider (for livestock and poultry) not only in his locality (Borthekerabari village in Darrang district under Paschim Mangaldoi block) but beyond that reaching to more than 500 HHs covering four additional villages. He was chosen by his community to be their Local Service Provider under the Cross-border Project. Before joining the project he was a typical farmer cultivating paddy and vegetables in his own land covering 0.44 acres of land. Besides he cultivated mustard and black gram as a share cropper.

His agricultural production met the food requirements of his household for only four months or so a year, with the family facing acute shortages of food over the other eight months of the year. He was associated with a local NGO as a community worker and he received training on livestock and poultry management. During that time he established good relation with local veterinary department and used to participate in vaccination camps organized by department and acquired the skill in vaccinating small ruminants like goat and poultry birds.

After joining the project Mukut was trained under the project on various aspect of livestock and poultry management to deliver services like advisory services, primary veterinary first aid (services include mainly treatment using herbal and allopathic medicines of diarrhoea, FMD, bloating in goat, skin disease, and vaccinations) or any kind of embedded services he can offer to the community on demand. He was also equipped with extension skills like motivation, awareness creation, and community empowerment, with special focus on rural enterprise development and natural resource management. He is providing services both as an individual LSP as well as an active member of the Service Provider Association in Darrang.He delivered technical sessions on livestock and poultry management in groups, provided door to door consultancy services, provided preventive and curative treatments and organized vaccination camps with involvement of local veterinary dispensary.

Due to his services the community has been benefitted in many ways- improving upon their local knowledge in animal management, getting easy access to inputs like preventive and curative treatments (like vaccines and medicines, poultry feed) and advisory services at doorstep. Mukut has played an important role in providing the first rung of animal care services to the farmers, thereby, preventing loss due to mortality, on account of common animal diseases. Earlier due to low economic output farmers attached low interest in developing their livestock and poultry flocks.

Mukut’s services have now enabled the poor farmers to increase the size of their animals and birds. He provides all types of embedded services from his home. In a single day he has 4-5 visitors, still many others who are located far communicate with him by phone call. He has built up strong linkages with veterinary officials in his area as well as at central level in Guwahati. He has been able to get their support services in terms of consultancy and supply of medicines, vaccines. His present annual income has increased significantly from all sources. Earlier he used to deliver services on foot now he has purchased a motorcycle from his income so that he can serve more people.