Goat rearing could double the Farmers income: IFAD

Pashu Sandesh, 18^th April 2018

According to International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), Goat rearing could double the Farmers income by 2022 in India. The two day conference which concluded today was organized in Delhi to discuss how to boost the growth of Goat sector in the rural India specially Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Odisha. These three states comprise of huge rural and economically backward population with the huge potential for the growth of Goat sector.

The IFAD has partnered with the Government, Bill and Melinda Gates foundation and Agri-solutions for raising Goats as income generating activity.

“It is an activity that requires minimal investment and input costs. Goats are also prolific breeders and have good survival arte in drought prone areas” the IFAD said in a statement.

Building a vibrant Goat sector in India is critical to reducing poverty, meeting the Sustainable Development Goals and India’s own rural development goal of doubling farmers’ income by 2022, the statement said.

Antonio Rota, IAFD’s lead technical specialist on Livestock said that there are various parties that are ready to invest and IAFD could help producers and interested parties to come together and create the lasting partnerships that support Goat producers and allow them access to the untapped market as equal partners.

In a recent seminar held at Delhi, Secretary of Department of Animal Husbandry Government of India Tarun Shridhar also stressed on the need of the rearing Goats as the means of income generation for the weaker section of society. In the same function he also praised the Telangana and Andhra Governments for the small ruminant distribution programs.