1ICAR-Central Institute for Research on Goats, Makhdoom, Farah, Mathura – 281 122, Uttar Pradesh
2Department of Agriculture Economics, Navsari Agriculture University, Navsari – 396 445, Gujarat
3College of Agriculture, Bheemarayanagudi – 585 287, Karnataka
Online published on 24 February, 2018.
The paper has discussed the contribution of goats in livestock-based economy along with nutritive and therapeutic value of goat meat and milk. Compiling data from diverse sources, the paper has assessed the contribution of goat sector to livestock economy in terms of value of output of goat meat, milk, skin and other products using National Accounts Statistics methodology. The goat population dynamics has been analysed in terms of changes in goat population according to their age, sex and functional categories for the period 20032012. The relevance of goat rearing to small farms and its inclusiveness has been evaluated in terms of its ownership pattern. Supply side factors have been studied in terms of goat meat production, export, productivity and slaughter rate. The paper has computed the net availability of goat meat as 869 thousand tonnes and demand as 1287 thousand tonnes. The paper has suggested that improved goat production technologies/management practices should be disseminated through capacity building and support services measures to goat keepers.
Goat meat, nutritional security, livelihood security, capacity building, goat-rearing
