Socio-Economic Status of Goat Farmers in Semi-Arid Zone of Uttar Pradesh

Increasing demand for high value commodities has opened the avenues of opportunities for small holders to diversify their production potential for better return to inputs. However, the socio-economic status of goat farmers could not get pace due to resource constraints, lack of technical knowledge and poor linkages to markets. Present study is conducted in Mathura and Agra districts of Uttar Pradesh to explore the existing goat rearing practices and socio-economic status of goat farmers in selected villages. Evidence has shown that majority of goat farmers belonged to landless and marginal categories. About 60 percent goat farmers’ annual income ranges between Rs. 10,000 to 30,000. Study also reveals that about 60 percent goats kept by farmers were from non-descript breed followed by Barbari (27 percent). Buffalo was found the other most preferable animal among large ruminants. More interestingly, merely 4 percent of goat farmers were getting veterinary aid from government veterinary hospital while 96 percent of goat farmers were dependent on either private veterinarian or home remedies. Though, poor socio-economic status cannot be ignore for the goat improvement in study area, some policy support is imperative to encourage goat farmers for their overall development.