Economic analysis of goat rearing under field conditions of bundelkhand region

The study was conducted to evaluate economics of goat rearing under low input in 8 villages of Hamirpur district of Bundelkhand region. The goats were maintained under mixed farming system by more than 73% households belonging to small and marginal farmers and landless labourers. The average land holding size of goat keepers was 1.64 hectare. Small, medium and large categories of goat farmers constituted 12.4, 73.0 and 14.6% of the total goat farmers, respectively. The average flock per household was 2, 8 and 23 for small, medium and large goat farmers, with an overall average of 9 goats. Major investment was made on goat purchase (92.7%) followed by construction of shed (5.72%) and on equipment (1.58%). Hired grazing and feed were major items of expenditure, accounted 74.21 and 20.59% of overall variable cost. Major source of income was obtained from sale of goats (83.28%) followed by sale/consumption of milk (13.42%). The overall net return per Rs.100 of investment over variable cost (A), variable cost + interest on fixed capital (B) and imputed value of family labour +A+B i.e C was 75, 64 and 45%, respectively. The present study suggested that goat rearing provides substantial source of income to farmers in draught-prone region of Bundelkhand.