GIRL POWER Project
Empowering rural women & girls through Goat Farming TEAM GIRL POWER
oat rearing or goat farming is a business enterprise, which is practised by a large section of people in rural areas. It plays a significant role in the Indian economy and nutrition of landless, small and marginal farmers or livestock owners in the nation. Goats are among the main meat producing animals and stay in huge domestic demand throughout the year. Goat rearing under semi-intensive and intensive system for production has been gaining momentum. Several goat farms have been established across the country. Its easy accessibility, favourable market conditions and improved technologies are also retaining the attention of entrepreneurs on a large scale. In India, we have large and genetic resources of goats as they play a significant role in economic upliftment, especially in rural areas. This sector is gaining potential in employment generation and reducing poverty. The Girl Power Project funded by the European Union and implemented by the All India Institute of Local SelfGovernment in Jharkhand is playing the role of independent agents of change that bring transformative change in the lives of 5000 women and girls of the state. The project team organised two training programmes, one from May 30 to June 1, and another from June 2 to June 4, 2022, in Devipur Block of Deoghar District, Jharkhand. In this training, 100 women beneficiaries participated to learn about goat farming/ rearing practices, skills, technology, and other aspects of goat farming to take up as business. In the opening session of training program, women beneficiaries were briefed about the objective of the training programme by a team member. The certified goat farming
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June 2022 | www.urbanupdate.in
trainer explained the detailed process of goat farming. He covered aspects like accommodation, feed and fodder cultivation, labours, veterinary aid, water requirement and its demand and potential market. On the second and third day of the training program, the trainer also explained grazing methods suitable in the state. Farmers should be aware of practical knowledge of grazing options available and how to increase the productivity of goats. He briefed about two methods: Semi-intensive and zero grazing. In semi-intensive grazing, goats are allowed outside for grazing, exposed to sun, during the day time in the fenced field, while in zero grazing, goats are not allowed to go out of pasture, their forage is brought to the shed.
Objective of the training programme
♦♦ The significance of goats, their nature and scope of goat farming business ♦♦ Goat breed selection for specific purpose suitable with the local climate ♦♦ Goat feeds and concentrates for both dairy products and meat ♦♦ Goat health care, diseases, treatment and other prevention ♦♦ Goat farming business plan ♦♦ Covering Commercial farming of goats for fibre, meat and other products Goat farming is highly beneficial, especially for unemployed farmers. There are higher returns in goat farming. For unemployed people in rural areas, goat farming has proven to be basic source of income throughout the year. In India, not only goat breeds have huge demand but also their products like meat manure, milk and fibre too. It is believed that goat farming is mainly done by labourers, landless, or by marginal farmers and India is the largest producer of goat meat, milk and fibres in comparison to other countries. In the initial stage, it might be small employment but gradually the demand and returns increase. Even state and central government provides assistance
