Socio-Economic Profile and existing Managemental Practices of Goat Farmers in Tiruvarur District of Tamil Nadu

Author: Sujatha V., Selvaraj P., Leela V., Ramachandran M., Ranganathan V., Balamurugan T.C. and Kathirchelvan M.

Download PDF

Abstract

A study was conducted to determine the socio-economic status of the goat farmers in Tiruvarur district of Tamil Nadu state during the year 2022. A total of 250 goat farmers were selected randomly and interviewed through a pre-tested questionnaire. To explore the socio-economic status of the goat farmers, seven criteria were used in order to establish a baseline. It was observed that most of the goat farmers were literate, aged between 20 to 39 years, landless or small landholders, possessing herd size of less than 30, and marketing less than 20 goats per annum. It was observed that the majority of goat farmers were females. There was a significant (P< 0.01) positive association of gender with each of the seven socioeconomic categories, including age, literacy level, primary occupation, trained skilled labour, land ownership, goat flock size and a number of goats marketed per annum. More than half of the farmers were rearing smaller flock sizes under an extensive system providing only night shelters. The flock size and breeding solely depend on the availability of grazing land and neighborhood bucks. Only one third of the farmers were feeding concentrate, mineral mixture and deworming their flock. Hence, a proper breeding programme and its dissemination through capacity building programmes for farmers could improve the overall population and productivity of the goats in Tiruvarur. Since goats can easily be reared on zero input managemental conditions. It can uplift even the "poorest of the poor" to reduce their poverty through goat enterprise.

Keywords

Socio-economic, management, goat farmers, grazing, breeding, Tiruvarur

Conclusion

This study revealed that goat farming is emerging as a new entrepreneurial self-employment opportunity among the rural youth population. Education and skill development training play a key role in inspiring the disguisedly employed young population into goat farming on a commercial scale. Integration of agriculture with goat farming and wage employees with goat farming were the occupation models existing in the Tiruvarur district. Reducing the herd size during the adverse environmental conditions that exist among the goat farmers. Hence, the effective implementation of fodder cultivation schemes and special projects to develop community grazing lands will address this issue. The creation of massive awareness on concentrate feeding, mineral mixture supplementation, deworming, dipping and vaccination will enrich the knowledge and skills of goat farmers to augment their income and the poverty line from goat husbandry.

References

-

How to cite this article

Sujatha V., Selvaraj P., Leela V., Ramachandran M., Ranganathan V., Balamurugan T.C. and Kathirchelvan M. (2023). Socio-Economic Profile and existing Managemental Practices of Goat Farmers in Tiruvarur District of Tamil Nadu. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 15(8a): 389-396.