Ruminant Park: An Agri-Business InnovationBy: Martin joseph1

Abstract“Raising goats is an income-generating activity that has enormous potential to increase incomes and improve nutrition for resource poor households, especially in remote, tribal and ecologically vulnerable areas. It is an activity that requires minimal investment and input costs. Goats are also prolific breeders and have a good survival rate in drought prone areas," the IFAD said in a statement. 2

The large ruminant dairy sector is more profitable but small ruminants have some advantages over the counterparts. They have wide adaptability to harsh environments, low production inputs and capital investment, high fertility and fecundity, low feed and management needs, less space and feeding requirements, and high feed conversion efficiency. Because of their smaller size they are suited for mountainous regions, limited land and other resources. The paper introduces a new way of production system that is “Ruminant Park” help in increasing the goat productivity and overall development in marketing and farming system. This park can definitely achieve the physical targets of National Action Plan 2022. Keywords: Ruminant Park, fecundity, fertilityIntroductionSmall ruminant sector is an integral part of Indian rural farming especially in the arid/semi-arid and mountainous areas. On an average, 15% of households in rural areas rear sheep/goat across the country and around 70% of goat/sheep are reared by small and marginal farmers and landless labourers, playing an important role in their nutrition, supplementary income and livelihood security .The goat sector alone contributes 8.4% to the India’s livestock gross domestic product (GDP) and generates about 4.2% rural employment to the small, marginal farmers and landless labourers.3

In India, goat sector contributes about 14,453 crores, out of which 6851 crore from meat, 4588 crore from milk and 648 crores from skin, which is 8% of total GDP from livestock sector and generate 4% employment directly or indirectly in the country . Approximately 20 million small and marginal farmers depend on goat rearing. However, the potential contribution of small ruminants is constrained by inefficient production systems, poor breeding strategies, weak marketing structure, and inadequate official support. The goat and sheep populations have declined by 3.82% and 9.1% from 2007 census. This may be because of high slaughter rate, effect of consumer shift resulting pressure on small ruminants, shrinking grazing lands and migrations.

1 school of agriculture sciences, Jaipur national university (BSc (hons) agriculture) (3rd year, semester V)

2 Raising goats can help India in doubling farmer income: IFAD(2018)3 Small Ruminant Sector in India: Present Status, Feeding Systems and Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Madhu Mohini*, Bilal Ahmad Malla and Goutam Mondal(2018)

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Basic Information of Goat as a livestock in the Country Role in Rural Economy: Among all species of farm animals, Goats have the widest ecological

range and have been poor people’s most reliable livelihood resource since their domestication during Neolithic Revolution about 10 millennia ago. Goat plays a significant role in providing supplementary income and livelihood to millions of resource poor farmers and landless laborers of rural India. Small ruminant rearing ensures self-employment and acts as a cushion in distress situations like drought and famine.

Role in entrepreneurship: In last few years, goat production in the country gained momentum in the form of a commercially viable enterprise as evidenced by increasing interest of young entrepreneurs to develop knowledge and skill in this species. In many small-herd dairy goat enterprises, not all does must be milked, so meat is often the main product. Along with meat, the sale of breeding stock from small herds of dairy goats may be an important income source. This versatility allows the producer to plan and operate a more stable economic production unit. In some parts of the world, all breeds may be raised for fiber, meat, and milk and cheese production. Kids of all breeds can be used for meat. However, meat goat carcasses are generally leaner and more muscular than dairy goat carcasses.

Role in global scenario: India ranks on top in goat population. The demand for meat, milk and fiber is increasing progressively and expected to further rise in future in view of sizable increase in per capita income and health consciousness of people. Worldwide consumers are preferring products that are “clean, green and ethical”. As such goat producers are shifting to husbandry practices that do not compromise the welfare of animals. Medicinal properties of goat milk increased the interest of society to use it as therapeutic health food neutraceutical; moreover, biotechnologists are focusing on designer milk for human health.

Role in Nutrition and Health: Goats possess distinct social, economical and biological advantages. They can be maintained on a limited area and can sustain on wide variety of vegetation in varied agro‐climatic conditions. Goat meat (chevon) is one of most preferred meat type by the consumers in several countries including India. The goat milk is easily digestible due to smaller size of fat globules and serves as a ready source of family nutrition. In India, both demand and production of goat meat have shown steady increase during the last decade and despite the rising 3 production trend, country would need to double the number of goats to meet the projected requirement of goat meat for growing human population in the coming decades.Present scenario of goat Farming Sector in the country.Traditionally goat has served as source of livelihood and financial security to large section of society, mainly comprising of resource‐poor people. In the present scenario of changing agro‐climatic conditions, this small ruminant farm animal has tremendous potential to be projected as the „Future Animal‟ for rural and urban prosperity. The backyard goat rearing is steadily turning as the fast growing „livestock industry‟ in the country. Goat husbandry in India is essentially an endeavor of millions of small holders who rear animals on “Crop Residues” and “Common Property Resources”. The small holders produce milk, meat, fiber, skin etc. for the community with virtually no capital, resource and formal training. More often goats are reared for production of meat, but they also serve as ready source for milk to meet the family requirement. Goats constitute 26.40% of the total livestock population and the 19th Livestock Census puts the number of goats in the country at 135.17 million.4

Sheep in the Economy

4 “Starting a ‘goat bank’ made all the difference” - The Hindu, Nov 27, 2015

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India's livestock sector has continuously provided structural support to the rural economy as an important vocation for rural population, next only to 4 crop raising. On account of favorable socio economic factors such as changing eating habits, higher purchasing power, urbanization, increasing health consciousness towards protein rich diet, preferred meat due to religious preferences, there has been increase in demand for meat and the sector has gained importance in terms of contribution to income, employment and foreign exchange earnings.

Goat and lamb meat are relatively small but important segments where local demand is outstripping supply. They have short generation intervals, higher rates of prolificacy, and marketing of Goat-Sheep meat products is far easier. Rajasthan, Jammu & Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Hilly regions of North and Eastern Himalayas are the Indian regions with maximum livestock population. The production levels in these two categories have been almost constant at 0.95 million tons with annual exports of less than 10,000 tons.

Present scenario of Sheep Farming Sector in the country.Indian subcontinent is a rich source of diverse ovine germplasm, and only very few countries have such a large number of breeds with wide genetic diversity. In India Sheep make a valuable contribution to the livelihood of the economically weaker sections of the society. Amongst the livestock owners the shepherds are the poorest of the lot. The export earnings from different woolen products and mutton is also noticeably contributing to the National income. Sheep skin in the form of leather and leather products is also exported. The population of Sheep is 65 million, and there is a change of population of (-) 9.07% in Sheep in the period 2007 to 2012 livestock census.5

Goat and sheep Production System in IndiaIn our country, goats are reared by men and women with diverse working and professional background. The production systems are as numerous as the socioeconomic and varied agricultural situations in the country. However, they can be broadly classified into the following:-

Tethering: This is common in the sub-humid and humid zones, where probably because of intensive cropping, it is a convenient means of rearing goats from the stand point of control, minimum labour input and utilization of feed in situ. It is thus a sedentary system. A variation of this method is combining tethering with grazing up to 5 goats at a time, led by ropes held by women and children.

Extensive production: This involves low carrying capacity in situations where land is marginal and is plentiful. It is characterized by low rainfall and various browse plants. The system is used by nomadic people, usually in very low rainfall areas or during winter months when crop resides are available.

Intensive production: The goats are fed in confinement with limited access to land. It involves high labour and cash inputs. Cultivated grasses and agro industrial byproducts are fed in situ. This system also has the advantage of allowing control over the animals.

Semi-intensive production: This system is practiced to some degree in most of the situations, but the nature and extent of integration depend on the type of crops grown and their suitability to goats. The advantages of this system are increased fertility of land via the return of dung and urine, control of waste herbage growth, reduced fertilizer usage, easier crop management, increased crop yields, and greater economic returns.

5Overview of Sheep Farming Sector in India-ICAR(2015)

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Apart from this I am suggesting a sustainable and commercial way of goat and sheep farming “Ruminant Park” it is the combined form of extensive and intensive production system. To have an in-depth understanding of the process and prospects of commercial goat farming in the country, 18 commercial goat farms of different sizes spread over Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh were selected. These farms were classified into three categories; viz., category I (500 goats) and had an average flock size of 63, 273 and 1169 goats, respectively Distribution of goat farms into flock size categories.

Category Flock size group

I < 100 goats II 100 – 500 goatsIII > 500 goats

Ruminant ParkIt is an emerging agribusiness innovation which enhance the goat production and productivity through cluster development. The main objectives of the park are:

1. To improve livelihood of goat keepers2. To improve goat productivity and management3. To encourage and facilitate the emergence of commercially oriented goat keepers.4. Employment Opportunity for Rural Youth5. Empowering Women6. Make India the Global Player in Goat Sector7. Improving Processing of Meat, Milk and By-Products8. Ensuring sustainable growth9. Bridging the demand and supply gap

The 4P APPROACH: Public-Private Producer-Partnership A 4P arrangement ensures that smallholder producers and marginal holder are respected

partners and not relegated to the receiving end of public-private partnerships (PPPs). Possible private investments under 4P arrangements might include construction or

expansion of slaughterhouses along with the development of meat/milk processing units, developing breeding farms, modernization of butcheries, setting up private veterinary clinics.

Public investments might include the construction of Goat Markets and processing units - gathering and selling points for livestock and their byproducts fully equipped with sheds, water and electricity, vet facilities, loading and unloading facilities These Markets will be under the local authorities’ responsibility and can be either privately or publicly managed.

Need of the Ruminant Park Commercial goat farming under intensive and semi-intensive system of management has been picking up in the last couple of years. Only less than one percent of the goat population of the country yet has come under such production system. There has been no organized effort to develop this sector and hence hardly any support system and required infrastructure is available for encouraging the commercial goat farming in the country. There have only been some efforts by individual entrepreneurs to develop this enterprise besides R&D efforts of Central Institute

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for Research on Goats and few NGOs. Though the illiteracy and low awareness was the biggest constraint of the goat farmers, but there were other major constraints faced by farmers while selling their goats particularly in the livestock markets. Majority of farmers felt constrained because of lack of transparency in trading of goats, poor access to market and price information and poor infrastructure in the livestock markets, such as lack of dirking water facility, shed and veterinarian. The farmers were highly skeptical about the ‘under cover’ method of price fixation of the goats. The poor infrastructure facilities in the weekly livestock markets and poor access to affordable transport resulted in poor participation of the farmers in the market. Timely access to market information is most important for the farmers to take right decision to sale the animals. The major constraints faced by the commercial goat farmers of different categories have been depicted in TableMajor constraints faced by commercial goat farmers (Farmer in %)6

Constraints Category

I II III

Transportation Harassment by police in the name of animal welfare

10 33 50

Diseases High mortality in the beginning due to PPR, diarrhea, tetanus, FMD, cold and pneumonia

50 33 50

Breeding stock and its breeding

Difficulty in identifying pure breed animals

70 33 -

Difficulty in getting good quality animals

60 67 100

Lack of cost effective method of synchronization

20 - -

Availability of inputs and services

Vaccines are not available- especially PPR & ET

40 50 100

Low cost complete feed not available 30 50 50

30 50 50

Non availability of cost effective appropriate tagging material 50 67 50

50 67 50

Non availability of veterinary doctor

30 33 -

Veterinary doctor has limited knowledge about goats and sheeps

60 50 -

Marketing Before building up 60 83 506 S kumar -Final Project Report-ICAR Ad-hoc Research Scheme( 2007)

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reputation as producer of quality animals, the Butchers purchase animals on very low price

Like any other commercial venture the prime objective of the ruminant park is to earn best returns from utilizing the required resources. Unlike commercial farming, the expenditure on feed and fodder was the major component of the cost of goat rearing and accounted for about 59 percent of the total variable cost of goat farming. According to the recent reports the one-third farms are running with high cost of production and they have to reduce it to remain in business.The ruminant park is an emerging agri-business revolution which help the farmers to increase their annual income and overall development of economy of the country.Farmer’s role

First they have to register their flock in the center. They will be provided with a flock register and selected animals will be insured and ear tagged.

The passbook will give the complete information about the does and bucks and the activities done by the farmer there.

In morning and evening they can take their flocks into the park for milking and making use of other services.

After entering the center they can use the assigned pens to park their flocks to feed and providing water.

From there they can take their flocks to the most advanced and automated milk parlour. After milking animals go back to their respective barns with the flocks.

They can also seek medical assistance from there. They can also sell their goats and sheeps to the center as bulk or few. There will be a fixed price for the animals according to their weights and quality. If the flock is getting out of unnourished fodder, farmer will be provided with proper fodder and

silage with subsidized price. Teaser buck will be in the each barns used to detect the heat in does. They can go for the medical assistance to artificially inseminate the doe with a genetically pure

breed buck according to the choice of farmer. To increase the meat and milk production per se and per animal, breed improvement is the key strategy.

Enquiry center will provide new information about the new schemes and policies formulated and implemented by the state and central government.

Therefore there will be no difficult for them to raise their flock without any ease.Working of the milk parlour

They collect the milk from the ewe and doe with highly developed automated milking machine. While milking them will record the quantity of milk get from the each doe and ewe along with

the scanned serial number on their ears. They will collect separate milk from the sheep and goat. Along with the production and productivity increase marketing facilities should be prioritized to

compete the export markets and to increase the income. They will send the data to the medical experts to analysis the milk yield and enter data into the

respective flock register.Production and Marketing of milk and milk products

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Goat Milk production is 5605 thousand MT accounting for 3% of the milk production. Goat milk sector has not received much attention and the functioning of the chain is not well documented. Based on the existing information, goat milk is marketed to a small extent and largely through informal channel. There exist a great demand for goat milk in Indian market as well as in international market. Milk produced by traditional farmers and commercial farmers also sold milk to local consumers and patients. The price they are getting is 20-25 % less than the prevailing price of buffalo milk. The medicinal properties and advantages of goat milk over buffalo milk have been well documented; but the market for goat milk as such has not yet emerged mainly due to its association with poor people and unhygienic methods of production. The milk produced in park is totally under hygienic conditions and minimize the smell of the milk with proper management practices. The milk sold as in powder or in liquid form. The milk products which can be made from the milk are cheese, yogurt, buttermilk, sour cream, kefir and frozen products. The ruminant park can overcome the existing barriers of marketing of goat milk products such as negative public perception of goaty flavor, and seasonal milk production, which prevents year-round uniform marketing7. Sheep milk is mainly used for the production of highly quality cheese. In India now cheese is milk’s leap towards prosperity – the market for cheese is Rs1, 250 crore. 8The scope for growth is huge. Sheep cheese comprises about 1.3 percent of the world's cheese production9. Some of the world's most famous cheeses were originally made from sheep's milk: Roquefort, Feta, Ricotta, and Pecorina Romano. In the current financial year (2017-18) imports of goat cheese was worth INR 156 million. Leading premium hotels and restaurants are sourcing cheese at INR 1000-2000 per kg.Economic benefits to farmersThe value of milk, which constituted about 25 percent of the gross returns on traditional flocks was only a minuscule part of the returns of commercial farms. The value of milk produced per goat per annum was Rs.331, Rs.119 and Rs.49 in category I, II and III, respectively. The commercial farmers, particularly the large flock owners were not interested in milking the goats and sheeps because, (i) the hand milking of large number of goats required lots of labourers that increased the labour cost and affected the timeliness of other farm operations; (ii) they wanted to make available more milk for the kids up to 3 months for attaining proper growth. The ruminant park provide a daily returns from milk and reduce the labour cost and unaffected the timelines of other farm operations. The table below shows the difference in returns from milk produced per goat per annum to farmers of different category. Through engaging in backyard goat rearing activity with a flock of about 3- 5 to 5-10 goats, the households earn about INR 20,000-40,000 per annum. This income can go up by 250 to 300 % with improved management practices and marketing linkages to reach a scale of 50,000 to 100,000 per household and even higher where the scope exists to improve herd size10.

7 “TN women goat rearer’s company gets equity grant” - The Times of India, Dec 22, 20168 Madhvi sally , et bureau –The Economic Times , (Sep 13, 2013)

9 Dairy goat industry grows to keep up with demand for cheese - Winsconsin State Farmer, May, 201710 IFAD: BUILDING A VIBRANT GOAT SECTOR:APPROACH PAPER FOR VISION 2030(2017)

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category Traditional or commercial farm Ruminant park Goat Milk production/ kg

Prices Rs./ liter

Sheep milk production/kg

Goat Milk production/ kg

Prices Rs./liter

Sheep Milk production/ kg

Prices Rs./ liter

I 187.92 8.10 - 3382.56 18 1879.2 10II 1066.61 8.16 - 19198.98 18 10666.1 10II 2894.38 8.27 - 52098.84 18 28943.8 10overall 1745.22 8.21 74680.38 18 41489.1 10

Working of veterinary and laboratory They will provide the medical aid and support to the farmers. They will daily examine the health condition of the animals and provide the required treatment

for them. Strategic control and eradication of economically important diseases will result in enhancing

goat production in the country. Occurrence of diseases causes heavy economic losses in terms of livestock health and production.

Provides food, water, and basic husbandry care for a variety of animal species. Cleans and sanitizes cages according to prescribed standards. Observes animals on a daily basis to assess health, environmental conditions, and social

environment; monitors animals for impact of research and advises veterinarian of same. Performs pre-surgical treatments under a veterinarian's direction, including identification of the

correct animal and administration of induction drugs at the proper dosages; prepares animal for surgical procedures according to established sterile standards.

Maintains cage cards, animal histories, and other records as required. Fixing the ratio of ration for the animals according to the advice of medical expert. Collecting semen from the animals for artificial insemination and its storage. Analyzing the quality and hygiene of meat and milk products. Conducting research to produce more value added products from the meat and milk.

Production and Marketing of meat and meat productsIn current scenario the butchers/meat traders were slaughtering 1 to 5 goats daily. Big towns/cities like Agra and Mathura in Uttar Pradesh and Ajmer and Jaipur in Rajasthan had slaughterhouses for goat and sheep. The municipality maintains the slaughterhouses. On account of insufficient space and pathetic conditions of the slaughterhouses, only 30 percent of the butchers/meat traders were slaughtering the goats in these slaughterhouses. Rest 70 percent butchers/meat traders were slaughtering the meat goats either inside their shop, or behind the shop or in their home. The small towns at block level and village did not have any slaughterhouse. The hygiene and cleanliness at the place of slaughter was not maintained at all.

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In Ruminant Park the slaughter of livestock involves three distinct stages: preslaughter handling, stunning, and slaughtering. The slaughtering process is undertaken by the laboratory to ensure hygiene and cleanliness. Sanitation is maintained at all meat-packing and processing facilities by mandatory inspection both before and during the production process. This includes floors, walls, ceilings, personnel, clothing, coolers, drains, equipment, and other items that come in contact with food products. Labels and standards regulations assure that products are accurately labeled, that nutritional information meets requirements, and that special label claims (e.g., lean, light, natural) are accurate.ByproductsBy-products are the nonmeat materials collected during the slaughter process, commonly called offal. Variety meats include livers, brains, hearts, sweetbreads (thymus and pancreas), fries (testicles), kidneys, oxtails, tripe (stomach of cattle), and tongue. Bones and rendered meat are used as bone and meat meal in animal feeds and fertilizers. Gelatin, obtained from high-collagen products such as pork snouts, pork skin, and dried rendered bone, is used in confections, jellies, and pharmaceuticals. Intestines are used as sausage casings. Hormones and other pharmaceutical products such as insulin, heparin, and cortisone are obtained from various glands and tissues. Edible fats are used as lard (from hogs), tallow (from cattle), shortenings, and cooking oils. Inedible fats are used in soap and candle manufacturing and in various industrial grease formulations. Lanolin from sheep wool is used in cosmetics. Finally, hides and pelts are used in the manufacture of leather.Economic benefits to farmersIn present situation the price of live goats was decided on weight basis by approximation. The weighing machine is not used for the purpose. The goat farmers got 68 per cent share in the consumers’ rupee. The ruminant park help to increase the 68% to 95% percent. Linking small farmers engaged in traditional livelihoods to global markets. With increasing incomes, health consciousness leading to higher consumption of livestock products, future growth rate of meat consumption ranging between 3-7% based on different estimates11. Consumer preference for high value processed goat and milk product is increasing in India and globally, with potential premium for high quality products.

11 “Goat meat prices at record levels as international demand grows for Australian product” – ABC News, August, 2016

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Market channel for goat, sheep and their products

Assessment of the new value chain Farmers get almost 95% of the final consumer price which is much higher as compared

with other agricultural commodities. The scale of operations at every levels in the value chain is very small. Avoiding the primary, secondary and butchers from the value chain. Setting up large processing units call for very high volumes of goats which will be ease to

procure, along with the quality requirement which will solve a strong constraint to optimal utilization of the infrastructure.

Setting up of open window system to the farmers to analyze the online marketing of the live goats.

Fair during the festivals help the farmers to get a fancy price to their healthy and good breed goats and sheep.

It can meet the demands for quality and premium products in domestic and export markets.

Animal welfare activities1. Breeding Stock: Goat rearing families retain female stock for replacement and purchase from fellow goat

rearing families if required. Produce and supply superior quality breeding bucks to rearers.2. Vaccines/ Medicines:

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goat rearer

Ruminant Park

online website

export to indian/international markets

wholesalers/consumer

fairs during festivals

consumers

Ruminant Park

slaughter house/milk parlour

Indian/ International market

consumer

Vaccines they are available with veterinary clinic (supply of vaccines through the clinic is much lower as compared with the population).

Sufficient deworming drugs are available for Rs.2 per dose. Curative medicines are also available in the veterinary dispensaries and have to be

purchase with veterinarian prescription. 3. Health/Breeding Service: Collaborate with the strong network of veterinary service centers focus largely on large

ruminants, UP (5048), Bihar (2417) and Odisha (3793). Private Service including retired professionals are available in respective states, charging

a service fee of INR 100. Breeding services are used either from their own buck or the buck of the ruminant park.4. Skill Training: Conduct training for goat rearing families with Goat Trust operates of states to have a

standard training module. KVKS have focus on goats, but there is limited awareness of the role of KVKS for

providing training related to gat rearing. Organize a group of people to provide awareness program to local farmers like SMILE in

Odisha is an institution involved in training, small ruminant families by developing training modules.

5. Feed Inputs: Providing goat feed to farmers at subsidized price during summer and winter days. Providing nutritious feed to unnourished goats and sheep.6. Credits: Access to credit during buying of animals. Helps the illiterate farmers to fill the application to access the loan. Providing insurance to all animals registered in the park.7. Government schemes and services: Scheme for Social Security for Goat and sheep Breeders: Insurance schemes which will

provide financial and social security to the farmer. The basic objective of the Goat Insurance Scheme is to provide insurance cover to animal in the case of accident including fire, lightning, storm, tempest, flood, inundation, earthquake, famine and diseases.

Common Facility Centre (CFC) for the rural Goat farmersVision objectives that can achieve through this innovationIndia emerges as a Strong Global Player in Goat Sector

1. Bridging the Demand Supply GapCurrent meat production in India is 1.041 million MT, demonstrating an annual growth rate of 2.4% over the past decade. The growth rate of demand estimated by FAO (2011) is 3% per annum, while according to Gandhi and Zou (2010) it is 7-8% considering the increase in incomes and price elasticity.

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As per CIRG (2013) estimates, the growth rate of goat population in India will touch 216 million heads in 2050. It can be achieve early by setting this park. Improving productivity is along with increase in population is critical to bridge the demand supply gap, to restrict further price escalation (current price INR 650/kg) to ensure affordability. Though productivity varies by breed, there exists productivity gap of at least 20-30% (Bihar study 8 kg/animal), which can be tapped addressed through breed up gradation and improved management practices2. Emerging as a Dominant Player in the Global MarketIndia is strategically located in the center to cater to the import needs of the middle-eastern and Southeast Asian countries. Currently these countries are importing from distant Australian and New Zealand markets which cost implications.Along with adequate export surplus, developing the export segment will require intense support in terms of investment and capacity building, while overall developing a conducive environment for private sector investments support to marginal, small, commercial/industrial farms, strengthening FPOs entrepreneurship development investments in modern abattoirs meeting international quality norms dedicated cold chain infrastructure Facility for air-cargo shipping to enable fast movement of goods.Impacting livelihoods1. Increasing Income of Goat Rearing HouseholdsThe income can go up by 250 to 300 % with improved management practices and marketing linkages to reach a scale of 50,000 to 100,000 per household and even higher where the scope exists to improve herd size.The traditional production system will be improved through these activities focusing on ensuring access to required inputs for curative and preventive care, ensuring access to health services along with widespread dissemination of extension information and updated technologies for adoption of improved management practices. These initiatives will address the issue of mortality and morbidity while improving quality of animal and productivity per animal. Improved market linkages will help to ensure better prices.2. Empowering WomenBecause of strong engagement of women in goat rearing, this investment in this sector is expected to have direct impact in uplifting the women economically as well as socially. Special focus will be on developing women oriented formal/informal grass-root institutions including SHG groups, FPOs, FPCs, cooperatives, etc. which will help to develop backward and forward linkages.3. Employment Opportunity for Rural YouthMany educated rural youth have invested in commercial goat farms, which can potentially have positive externalities for the sector. The entrepreneurs who have pioneered organized farming can be engaged in knowledge transfer for the implementation of goat farming

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projects. Rural youth will potentially connect unorganized goat farmers to the organized processing sector.Improving Meat Processing – Quality and Product RangeQuality of meat will be improved through emphasis on quality at all levels in the value chain. Improving Meat Processing – Quality and Product Range Production stage, on developing quality animals through proper health care along with

breed improvement. Market level: checking by veterinary officials Traditional retail chain, ensure implementation of FSSAI regulations regarding licensing

of meat shops. Training of butchers on “Clean Meat Production Practices” by developing manuals in

collaboration with leading ICAR institutions – National Research Center on Meat.Improving Processing of Milk and Milk Products Goat Milk production is 5605 thousand MT accounting for 3% of the milk production.

Goat milk sector has not received much attention and the functioning of the chain This innovation on commercial goat farming and processing have focused on goat milk to

capitalize on the nutritional value and market for high value processed products. Developing the sector will put focused efforts on up-gradation of milk breeds, support to commercial farms, encouraging entrepreneurs to invest in the sector through training programs on processing along with facilitating access to finance.

Ensuring Sustainable GrowthAlmost 100% of the feed and fodder requirements of Sheep and goats are through CPRs, which makes it a viable income generating option for the resource-poor livestock owners.Along with regeneration of CPRs, production of specific crops used as feed/fodder for goats has to be improved. Availability of leafy material for feed/fodder can be improved through utilizing waste areas, using bunds for planting fodder crops, while increasing use of crop residue for feeding. Though this innovation semi-commercial and commercial farms will adopt intensive production systems, the regeneration of CPRs is critical to support the livelihoods of small holders while ensuring environment sustainability.

SWOT analysis of Ruminant ParkStrengths weakness

India is having the second highest number of Sheep & Goat. (After China).Extraordinary hardiness and ability to adapt to the most harsh regions and facility of movement in rugged and harsher terrainsIndigenous breeds with good potentialMarketing potential for wool and meat and milk.Veterinary infrastructure at ground levelOrganized structure of sector.Make available of marketing infrastructure

High startup cost Convincing the uneducated farmers about the benefits of this production systemRoaming of nomadic tribes from place to place

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facilities for Value addition such as meat processing, warehousing, Cold storage, refrigerated vehiclePresence of private public partnershipEstablishment of District wise semen stations and Strengthening of AI centres in all the selected states.Online platform to sell the milk, milk products and meat.Availability of cold storage to store milk and meat productsExistence of strong institutional infrastructure comprising of ICAR research institutions, government breeding farms, KVKS,High number of CAHWs engaged in providing services

Opportunities Threats

The rising demand of productsUntapped potential for the export & value added productsStrategic location of India to meet the demands of the Middle Eastern countries.Goat meat is free from religious taboosModern production technologiesEmployment generationHelps in the overall development of goat and sheep farming sectorEnsure quality production of milk and meat productsIncreasingly quality conscious consumer willing to pay premium for qualityCentrally sponsored scheme for modernization of abattoirEncouraging fodder cultivation Highly committed and professional NGOs interested in working in the sector.Enterprising Entrepreneurs investing in processing of various value added product.

Extreme climatic conditions and natural calamities.Invasion of diseasesUrbanization.Tax regulations for marketing and other transactions.

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Long list of opportunities with few threats reflects a positive and favorable external environment for investing in the sector. SWOT analysis points to significant opportunities to bridge the demand supply gap for goat meat while improving the livelihoods of the households involved in goat rearing

ConclusionThe vision of Ruminant Park is comprehensive growth of the goat sector with equal focus on developing the backyard and commercial farms along with focus on organized marketing and processing of goat products to ensure quality, while ensuring environmental sustainability. Change the image of goat as a “poor man’s cow” to a “green business option for the Bottom of the Pyramid (BOP).This park can solve the issue of mortality and morbidity while improving quality of animal and productivity per animal. Improved market linkages will help to ensure better prices. It is also used as a tool for poverty reduction and play a crucial role in the economic growth of a country. It can definitely increase goat production to reduce poverty and achieve the target of doubling farmer’s income by 2022. The goat sector has the potential to be a vibrant sector demonstrating robust and dynamic growth moving away from the traditional low growth path evolution. This dynamic growth cannot be achieved without focused efforts of many stakeholders influencing the sector -state and national governments, multi-lateral agencies, private investors, agribusiness firms, NGOs, financial institutions, research institutes, along with producers and producer groups.

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