In the drought-prone areas of Maharashtra, goat farming and rearing is fast emerging as a sustainable option. As goats thrive well on a wide variety of thorny bushes and crop residues, they are can survive under harsh conditions too, and can in fact help in maintaining grazing lands and save farms from bush encroachments.
Over the last 7-8 years, the Maharashtra State Rural Livelihood Mission in conjunction with UP's Goat Trust of India (GTI) has built centers in Wardha, Jalna and Beed to train farmers in goat rearing.
Now corporate consultants' CSR wings like PricewaterhouseCoopers India Foundation has embarked on a year-long project to promote goat farming. In Narala, around 168 farmers are taking up goat rearing as a supportive vocation. Along with bearing two-thirds of the cost of the goat, the foundation will also bear the cost of vaccination, insurance, training of farmers and other administration costs.
However, there are still challenges that need to be addressed. "While the government is focusing on distributing goats, farmers are not trained in marketing and hence despite spending a lot on rearing the goats, returns are very low. Additionally, the insurance rules in goat mortalities during rearing are harsh, which further reduces profitability," explains Sumedh Sthul, Goat rearing consultant.
Experts have also opined that a fresh look is required at rearing goats.
" Agriculture with small land holdings is not viable anymore. Many farmers rear goats. It is the farmer's ATM in crisis. However, like there is a cattle fodder policy in place there is no goat fodder policy. Goats farmers need to consulted and a new policy instituted to encourage goat-rearing in the state," explained Atul Sharma, Secretary of Wardha based Gram Seva Mandal founded by Vinoba Bhave.
