The Cattle Loan Program is a simple but effective economic growth idea that can have a dramatic impact on hundreds of families. It works by giving cows (aged 1 year to 2 years) to qualified females experiencing deep economic hardship. When the heifer gives birth to a healthy calf, the loan is paid by giving calf to the scheme, and the calf is passed on to another family.

The mother cow stays with the family, providing milk to generate revenue and for their own consumption. After giving two calves back to the scheme the cow/buffalo belongs to the family, they can sell it or keep it for milk and/or further reproduction. In year 2010, WLO gave 207 heifers to women households or directly to qualified females.

In this programtwo heifers are given to a pre-qualified needy female. The family raises the cattle for one or two years till it gives birth. At this time the mother and the calf are sold in the market, the profits are split among both parties after deducting the pre agreed expenses.

The studies show that one cattle a year can lift a family of three out of poverty in Pakistan according to the figures provided by the World Health Organization.  The family is selected by using poverty banding. Females are encouraged to join this program. The family is provided with cattle with a security of ownership as long as they abide by the contract. WLO’s finance department also issues advances to these families without interest. There is a designated veterinarian and a herd manager who keeps a log of all animals and looks after their wellbeing, contract enforcement and humane conditions on weekly basis. Each animal is sold with papers and a log book for breed control.

This is a sustainable way for poverty alleviation or rural economic growth as the families get out of the vicious circle of poverty and there is also a great opportunity for investments that follow Islamic rules with better results compared to commercial banks.

Two hundred and sixty five women were given twenty five egg laying hens. All recipients were selected in the UC85 with single mother household or a woman with more than three children. The main idea of this program is to make a woman empowered to take care of her family’s basic needs and the nutrition.  On average each hen of the selected breed gives 265 eggs per year on organic diet. All families were given education on poultry care and regular vaccination is provided to all birds. Twenty five hens can lay 6625 eggs in a year and the average price of the organic eggs was Rs. 9 for the year 2009. With these numbers and at a 10% loss to the birds a women household is able to make Rs. 4,500 per month. This was not a charity and the basic amount of the hens will be paid by the owner to WLO for a trust fund so that would be passed on to other needy families.

Two goats were given to qualified females who could take care of the female goats. Each owner was given training in ruminant care and our vet visits all the animals on regular basis for vaccines and health checkup. In this program the owner has to return the mother after two month of birth and she keeps the kids (mostly the Beetal breed gives two kids). The mother is than passed on to the next family. Two goats in a year can generate about twenty five to thirty thousand rupees for a family when they sell the males for meat purposes during Eid ul Adha. Mostly they keep the females for future growth. In the year 2010, WLO gave 165 goats to qualified females.