Livelihood security through improved goat rearing practices under field conditions

Data were collected from randomly selected 147 goat-rearing households from Raebareli and Barabanki districts of Uttar Pradesh. Ninety percent goat keepers belonged to socio-economically backward communities with their major source of income as labour. Goats were looked after mainly by women and children in the families. All the farmers had non-descript goats maintained on grazing and crop residues. The average flock size was 3.24 in Barabanki and 2.84 in Raebareli district. No separate housing was available for goats and kept in human dwellings. The awareness and adoption levels about improved goat rearing practices such as breeding, strategic and supplementary feeding of concentrates, deworming and vaccination, etc., were negligible. Average gross income was Rs. 2465/goat/yr. Bucks of Sirohi and Barbari breeds were provided to the selected farmers as one of the interventions under Sustainable Livelihood Component-3 of National Agriculture Innovation Project (NAIP) to improve the income and employment of the poor farmers by increasing the productivity of goats. The study revealed 28% increase in income through introduction of Sirohi over non-descript goats along with improved management practices. The study suggested that a unit of 5 Sirohi goats with improved management practices could provide additional income of about Rs 18000 – 22000 in first year which may likely to increase with the increase in flock size and create employment of > 228 man days per year to sustain livelihood of poor people.