Today, goats ensure income to five million households in India. But goat rearers face an opportunity and a threat as the demand for goat meat is set to shoot up, while grazing land is shrinking. If India does not secure its pastures, goats might turn from an asset to a liability, reports Down To Earth.
A plant producing cheese from goat milk will start production at Khajuraho in Chhattarpur district from first week of September. This will be the first and biggest plant in Asia and the cheese produced here will be exported to European countries. Agreements to this effect have already been signed. 300 persons will get direct employment at the plant.
Small-scale farmers depend largely on their animals and need to feed them well. Technology based innovations have been the mainstream solution to improve the fodder problem. But making farmers find relevant information and networks appears to be as much effective for innovation.
Goats are increasingly seen as a threat to the ecology as they feed on any type of plant species. But goat keeping continues to be an important livelihood activity for the resource poor people. BAIF has promoted a number of initiatives with twin goals of helping small farmers in rearing goats and also protecting the environment.
