Matrika Design Collaborative was involved with the design and development of Value Additional Services for Moksh Yug Access (www.mya.org) in the Northern Karnataka district of Bagalkot. Moksh Yug Access has been in the process of developing successful supply chain mechanism for milk production and consequent collection alongside Karnataka Milk Federation and this project marked the start of this mechanism with support from Unitus (www.unitus.com)
The project involved the identification of virgin sites in villages within Bagalkot district and their progressive development to form epicentres of milk production and distribution. The design development was highly participatory with surveys being done of the selected villages and community interaction. Earmarking of sites was also dependent on physical and logistical determinants which would aide the process of production and collection.
Cost effective building solutions based on local skill, labour and materials was proposed. Our team made in-depth studies and surveys of the district in order to produce cost effective and sustainable solutions for the project.
The project itself involved the development of Dairy Farm Units (DFU) for various communities. Each DFU had the capacity to hold up to 20 milk producing animals (Cows/Buffalos) and associated calves. Provisions were made for animal fodder, watering hole and open areas inside the compound. The space also catered for a milk collection area alongside a caretakers accommodation. The entire compound had a transaction area for milk collection and inspection by KMF authorities.
The construction materials used were locally available stone for the foundations and sub-structure while generic brickwork aided by mangalore tiled roof on steel sections. A large part of the unskilled labour force came from the village community as they helped clear the land, excavate for the foundations and assisted the skilled labourers in their chores. The entire process of developing four Dairy Farm Units was completed in a record 60 days.
The development also included the setting up of a Primary health care unit for the community which would provide basic medical assistance to a cluster of 5 villages in its vicinity.
The MYA rural development project has been one that involved a high degree of community participation and design and remains as a benchmark for more rural development work that we would like to undertake in the future
The project involved the identification of virgin sites in villages within Bagalkot district and their progressive development to form epicentres of milk production and distribution. The design development was highly participatory with surveys being done of the selected villages and community interaction. Earmarking of sites was also dependent on physical and logistical determinants which would aide the process of production and collection.
Cost effective building solutions based on local skill, labour and materials was proposed. Our team made in-depth studies and surveys of the district in order to produce cost effective and sustainable solutions for the project.
The project itself involved the development of Dairy Farm Units (DFU) for various communities. Each DFU had the capacity to hold up to 20 milk producing animals (Cows/Buffalos) and associated calves. Provisions were made for animal fodder, watering hole and open areas inside the compound. The space also catered for a milk collection area alongside a caretakers accommodation. The entire compound had a transaction area for milk collection and inspection by KMF authorities.
The construction materials used were locally available stone for the foundations and sub-structure while generic brickwork aided by mangalore tiled roof on steel sections. A large part of the unskilled labour force came from the village community as they helped clear the land, excavate for the foundations and assisted the skilled labourers in their chores. The entire process of developing four Dairy Farm Units was completed in a record 60 days.
The development also included the setting up of a Primary health care unit for the community which would provide basic medical assistance to a cluster of 5 villages in its vicinity.
The MYA rural development project has been one that involved a high degree of community participation and design and remains as a benchmark for more rural development work that we would like to undertake in the future
