Huge potential in commercializing the smallholder goat sector in India

According to a report undertaken by the International Livestock Research Institute report on ‘commercializing the smallholder goat sector in India’, there is huge potential to enhance the livelihoods of and business opportunities for poor farmers in the rural areas of the states of Bihar, Odisha and Uttar Pradesh. Key recommendations in the report include the establishment of vibrant farmer organizations to support production, processing and marketing; the privatization of fodder production; the establishment of private animal health care service providers; the promotion of commercial goat farms; and support for the existing sanitary and hygienic meat production infrastructure.

The report is part of a scoping project for public private producer partnerships in small ruminant value chain development in India launched by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the International Fund for Agricultural Development last year. The objective of the project is to build solid understanding among goat industry stakeholders (public…