View Project

1. Establishment of rural goat milk product processing center for goat milk products and enhancing nutritional and livelihood security.

2. Validation of goat milk-based value chain including marketability.

Goats have been playing a vital role in the livelihood security of landless labourers, small and marginal farmers as evident by the fact that more than 75% goats are reared by these categories of farmers of Uttar Pradesh. Their small size, with clean habits and easy control allows them to be maintained by women and old aged persons on limited space and low inputs. Goats are considered as livelihood security for landless farmers. On the other hand, Goat milk plays very important role in nutritional security of poor people. Goats could be sale easily round the year and could be easily integrated with large ruminants and poultry thus very much beneficial for integrated farming. Mathura region constitutes four blocks and Farah block is playing the major role of supplying breedable goats to many parts of the country. Having the Central institute in Farah block added advantage to commercial farmers of different parts of the country who visits this institute and look for best breedable goats. This block constitutes around 1% of total goat population of the state. There are 1.3 lakh goats in Mathura district, (19th Livestock Census 2012). The Goat population in the district has remained stagnant between 2007 and 2012. Mathura district is one of home tract of nation famous ‘Barbari’ breed of goat. Barbari goat is most preferred breed for meat production due to early maturity, high prolificacy and suitability for variable feeding practices (stall, semi-intensive). Goats of other breeds viz. Sirohi, Jakhrana, Jamunapari and their crosses were also found in this district. Goat farming contributes 15-17% to total farm family income in the district. Beside these economic gains, goat rearing provides gain full employment to millions of rural households. Mathura being the birth place of Lord Krishna and attracts international devotees. In addition to religious tourism, ethnic tourism also happening here. In that direction, goat milk is also in high demand in this region. There is huge scope to link goat farmers with market for better price realization. There is also a production gap between urban and rural communities. Goat milk powder and ghee may help close this gap, assure an ongoing supply when desired, and meet stability and safety requirements. The powder and ghee is easy to utilize, store, and balance the supply of milk and provides a steady food reserve for future use. The powder can be used for recombination or reconstitution, and their intrinsic functional qualities in various applications, such as bakery, confectionery, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals. Ghee also in demand in the pharmaceuticals. Milk and milk products are exceptionally. The conversion of excess milk into milk powder not only extends its shelf life but also increases its value for the consumer (Kelly, 2006). Goat milk processing was shown to prolong shelf life and reduce goaty odours, thereby increasing consumer acceptance (Park, 2000). Scientists have used several interventions to produce goat whole milk and skim milk powder that are of the highest quality due to goat milk's significance in human health (Sharma et al. 2012). Realizing the importance of goat milk products in sustaining the livelihood and nutritional security of poor people, and its suitability for enhancing farmers income, the proposed study has been planned to promote innovative and techno-economic feasible solutions through goat milk powder, ghee making and marketing interventions for increasing farmers’ income. Necessary knowledge, technical know-how and critical inputs will be provided to identified goat farmers preferably women on the basis of critical gaps and constraints. Simultaneously, efforts will be made to link goat farmers with the market to realize better profit.

Advancement of Existing knowhow

Economic opportunities Bridging the gap between current and achievable goat productivity targets namely milk yield, body weight (meat), fiber and transaction of goats through efficient marketing channels will definitely improve producer’s share in consumer’s rupee. Technological empowerment in the field of goat rearing will mitigate economic losses due to constraints in goat production in general and health in particular. This will help the small and medium goat entrepreneurs to have good economic opportunities. Due to value addition of goat products farmers will also get more returns. Thus the project will enhance the productivity and farmer’s income in a sustainable manner. Economic interventions of Goat milk value chain Goat milk value addition is one of the best technologies used for the farmers income. Goat milk is the highly priced milk commodity in this country at this time. Proper tapping is required and there is enormous scope in this area. Producers share will be improved significantly. In addition the nutritional security can be established at the village level in addition to livelihood security.

The project is conceptualized and designed to empower goat farmers technically and provide sustainable livelihood security through improved goat rearing practices. Improved price realization through develop market linkages, value addition of goat produce and increase in farm income will encourage farmers to take up goat farming at commercial level. Increased income to the farm produce is expected output of the project. Similarly, the overall welfare of the goat farmer community will be the outcome of this study. Furthermore, project can be replicated in any part of the state. This requires capacity building of goat farmers of other parts of the state. Some commercial goat farmers in the state who were trained by ICAR-CIRG will help in dissemination of goat technologies. There will be great demand for quality goats in the market. linkages with financial institutions will increase financial literacy among goat farmers. Study will enhance the knowledge of goat farmers, government official as well researchers.

Self implemented