Download full text in PDF

Doubling of farmer’s income through intervention of goat farming in tribal dominated area of Maharashtra

S. K. Das*, A. K. Bhalerao, S. V. Bahire, H. P. Aithal, K. N. Bhilegaonkar
*This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Training and Education Center (TEC), ICAR — Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Shivajinagar, Pune, Maharashtra, India

An effort was made to improve socio economic condition of tribal farmers with the object to attain doubling of income through intervention of goat farming in tribal dominated area of Maharashtra, i.e. Nashik and Nandurbar districts during 2016–2017 to 2021–2022. Necessary benchmark survey was done to select tribal farmers randomly. Training on scientific goat farming was imparted to the farmers. Different inputs such as Osmanabadi goat, pellet goat feed, feeder, drinker, roofing material, mineral & vitamin mixture were provided free of cost to all the farmers under Tribal Sub Plan (TSP) programme. Routine deworming, vaccination of goat was done. Regular visit to the goat units was done to check health of goat and interact with the farmers. Average birth weight of kid was 2.496±0.279 kg. Average daily gain of kids was recorded to be 111.61±10.08 g/day. Average single born, twinning born and triplet born of kids were recorded to be 39.99±1.71 %, 56.02±1.22 % and 3.99±0.98 % respectively. 40.00 % farmers from Gawandh, Nashik and 60.00 % farmers from Vinyaknagar, Nashik realized doubling of income from selling of goats after 4 years of rearing. It was found that % farmers attained doubling of annual income increased gradually 21.43 % after 2 years to 34.54 % after 3 years and to 36.36 % after 4 years of rearing. Development of value chain and efficient utilisation available resources would be target for enhancement of farmer’s income immensfully.

Keywords: doubling of income, farmers, goat farming, Maharashtra