1College of Agriculture, Jodhpur (Agriculture University, Jodhpur), Rajasthan, India
2College of Agriculture, Baytu-Barmer (Agriculture University, Jodhpur), Rajasthan, India
*Corresponding author: kailashiari@gmail.com (ORCID ID: 0000-0002-4278-3109)
Online published on 6 September, 2023.
Within animal husbandry, goat farming plays an essential role in livelihood security and economic sustenance of rural people by providing regular employment and income generation throughout the year. Also, it providing security against risk in agriculture. The present study was conducted to the empowerment of schedule cast farmers through goat husbandry as an economic Venture for low-income families of faster body weight gain and higher milk-producing goat breed “Sirohi” under ICAR, New-Delhi sponsored SC-SP project for “Entrepreneurship and to strengthen their livelihood and economic improvement of Schedule cast youth” in the year 2019-2020, in Jodhpur district of western Rajasthan. Ten Sirohi goat units were demonstrated to each identified schedule cast respondent. Each unit comprised of ten females and one buck. The results revealed that the improved Sirohi goat has an immense production potential in arid regions under a traditional low input production system. The average expenditure and income on the rearing of animals were calculated at 26,576 and 60,174, respectively. The benefit-cost ratio was recorded at 1:2.26, which appears to be very much economical and viable. It is a profitable and economic venture for resource-poor families in livelihood and entrepreneurship.
• Livestock farming has been recognized as an instrument of drought-proofing.
• Goat farming is the only alternative source of livelihood in the arid zone.
• Goat farming does meet not only the nutritional security but also an economic venture
Sirohi goat, Entrepreneurship, Arid ecosystem, Economics
