Doubling rural farmers' income through goat farming in India: prospects and potential

摘要

Nearly 72.2% population of India is living in 6.38 lakh villages, mostly dependent upon agriculture and livestock for their livelihood. Crops productivity is largely restricted by uncertain and erratic rainfall, scarcity of water for irrigation and deterioration of soil-health. Out of the 138 million Indian rural households, 33.01 million(24%)are maintaining goats. Households cultivating less than 2.0 ha of land (marginal and small) are the custodian of more than 76% of the total goats in the country. Goat has been playing multiple role in livelihood of the rural people by providing income, employment, nutrition, supporting crop production and risk aversion in case of crop failure.Landless men and women are increasingly relying on goat keeping for their socio-economic upliftment.