Goat: Contribution for sustainable development in India

The objective of this study is to asses the role of goat in food production, analysing the constraints limiting their production potential and further contribution to the economic development of small farmers. Goat plays an important role for the development of rural mass in arid and dry land areas and offers immense opportunities and potential for improvement of income and employment opportunities for the resourceless poor in the rural areas. Goat can convert low quality fibrous feed to high quality products. The small size, early maturity, low capital investment particularly suit them to the needs of limited resource producers. Goat is the only species which has maintained steady growth rate over last two decades and practically reared all-over India. Goat is no more considered as ecological degrading animal. It has own potential and goat farming is highly viable and economical as compared to other production systems. Goat farming has no biasness from gender point of view and it provides self reliance and economic stability to the household acting as cash buffer and reduces the risk of crop production in mixed farming system. Post production scenario needs early attention as it is important for benefit of farmers as well as saving high genetic potential buck from slaughter. Goat by virtue is an integral part of our agricultural system. Therefore the assessment of status and recommendation for improvement strategy must consider this role within our production system to make it sustainable and viable.