Commercial Goat Farming in India: An Emerging Agri-Business Opportunity

The status, economics and prospects of commercialization of goat production in the country have been analyzed using primary data from 18 commercial goat farms in different states. It has been revealed that several large and progressive farmers, businessman and industrialists have adopted commercial goat farming. The entry of large farmers, who have better access to technical knowledge, resources and market, into this activity would help in realizing the potential of goat enterprise. A majority of commercial goat farms have been found operating with positive net returns. Goat rearing has been found equally rewarding under both intensive and semi-intensive systems of management. Intensification and commercialisation of goat enterprise has been recorded important because of shrinking of resources for extensive grazing. Commercialisation would help in increasing the goat productivity and bridging the demand-supply gap. However, use of improved technologies, particularly prophylaxis, superior germ plasm, low cost feeds and fodders, and innovative marketing of the produce would be the pre-conditions for successful commercial goat production.