Constraints Perceived by Goat Keepers in Adoption of Goat Husbandry Practices in Semi-Arid Rajasthan

Abstract

The present study was undertaken to investigate the constraints faced by goat farmers in semi arid part of Rajasthan. Data collected from 240 households revealed that feeding was the main constraint faced by 78.75% goat farmers followed by marketing, health and breeding by 77.50, 74.25 and 71.11% farmers, respectively. The main constraint regarding feeding management was lack of knowledge about balanced feeding, high cost of feeds and fodder, lack of irrigation facilities, non availability of green fodder, lack of knowledge about importance of mineral mixture, and shrinking grazing land. Regarding breeding, main constrains were inadequate availability of breeding buck, lack of knowledge about breeding practices and indiscriminate breeding practice. With respect to health care the major constraints were lack of veterinary services in villages, high cost of treatment, ignorance about importance of deworming, lack of knowledge about common diseases and vaccination programme not carried out by any agency. With respect of marketing, the main constraints were lack of marketing infrastructure, middleman not fetching remunerative price to male kids, unorganized goat owners and not even a single agency helped in marketing. Considering above facts, it is suggested that appropriate strategy might be formulated for the development of goat farming and also for the goat farmers.