Aindhinai FPO Farm has been in to many innovative initiatives. Here we have herds of cattle such as cows, goats and all from the native stock. Aindhinai one of the few centers in the entire state to have a large herd of donkeys.

Another uniqueness of this farm is that almost all the donkeys maintained here were the ones which had been rescued from the clutches of torture and death. This initiative is aimed at saving this specious of animals from getting extinct. This is because in those very few such as washer men communities who still stick to the traditional ways of rearing donkeys for carrying loads are the ones who rear donkeys.

But many of the animals are abandoned without any care leading to their straying in to roads and other hazardous places risking their lives. And hence we have taken up protecting the species of donkeys as a mission in Aindhinai. All the rescued donkeys have found a wonderful home here and many have yielded calves too in the last two years since we had started this initiative.

The donkeys are sought after for the extraordinary medicinal properties that its milk and wastes possess. The milk traditionally has been considered on par with human mother’s milk in containing various natural nutrients. And hence the milk of donkey commands a very high price but it is in short supply costing Rs 5000/- a litre.

The donkey milk is an important ingredient in the preparation of many in demand cosmetic items too. Similarly the dung of donkey too have medicinal properties and the traditional systems have been using the dried dung as a kind of benzoin to get relieved from bronchial congestions. Donkeys are also traditionally considered as a symbol auspiciousness and used in house warming ceremonies etc. The very sight of a donkey is considered as a sign of good luck as well.

Apart from being one of the campuses having large number of donkeys in the state of Tamil Nadu India, Aindhinai has many more nature based solutions in its campus. The bio gas plant and the solar power plant here stand as exemplary model for cost efficient eco friendly energy based solutions. The surplus of the power generated here through the solar power is given to central grid of the government electricity board.

All the energy needs such as cooking gas for the kitchen and electricity needs of the Aindhinai campus are met with self generated sources and the campus remain fully self sufficient. The wastes necessary for the bio gas plant are sourced from the cattle such as native cows and goats being raised here.

 All these initiatives like raising donkeys, cattle like cows, goats and solar power generation, Aindhiniai serves as a unique model to be emulated both at micro level by individual farmers and others. And the government too can make use of our campus to study the nature based eco friendly economic self sufficiency .

Visit Aindhinai and see for yourself the Integrated Farming method.