Analysis of value chain of live goats and meat in Tamil Nadu, India

This paper identifies the production and marketing systems of live goats and meat by mapping and analyzing the value chains in Tamil Nadu. Qualitative and quantitative data on value chain stakeholders (farmers, aggregators, retailers and restaurants) and their interactions were collected through personal interviews. The study showed that aggregators played a pivotal role in the marketing system by accounting for two-thirds of the total flow (76.66%) of live goats to animal market. Retailers procured animals from livestock markets and farmers at the farm level and sold their meat to consumers and restaurants. Eighty percent of animals brought to the markets were purchased by retailers. Retailers' net margin per kg carcass weight was higher (Rs. 21.17) than aggregators (Rs. 5.98). Marketing efficiency analysis showed that direct sale by farmers to retailers at the animal market was most efficient (15.07) than sale at doorsteps (4.87). It was concluded that farmers get better prices when they sell their animals to retailers in the animal markets but due to logistics issues, most of the farmers prefer to sell their animals at their doorsteps to aggregators at lower prices.