Goat Valley
As per the call of the Hon'ble Prime Minister for 'doubling the farmer’s income' and 'self-reliance' goat rearing is an important means of livelihood in Uttarakhand. Goats are also called the ATM (Any Time Money) for poor farmers. The main advantage of goat rearing is to get proper livelihood opportunities in a natural environment with less labor.
According to the 20th National Livestock Census 2019, the number of goats in Uttarakhand is about 13.70 lakh goats and about 02 lakh families are associated with goat rearing for livelihood.
Goat rearing is emerging as an important business in the state to resolve the problem related to migration and to provide easy employment opportunities.
In order to support, strengthen, and elevate the goat-rearing activity in the state, the Animal Husbandry Department, Uttarakhand, and Uttarakhand State Cooperative Development Project-Sheep Goat Sector is planning to establish Goat Valleys’ in all the districts of Uttarakhand.
Main objectives of Goat Valley:
The main objective of Goat Valley is to develop a model of integrated livelihood promotion by focusing on commercial goat farming by organizing goat rearers of the state in the form of a cluster by establishing Goat Valleys’.
Traditional goat rearing running in the state will be converted into a profitable making activity and will be established as an enterprise. Will also provide self-employment to the unemployed youth of the State.
Goat-related products like export quality meat, goat milk, and value-added products are to be developed from the proposed Goat Valley in the state.
Vision of Goat Valley:
To provide suitable opportunities in the upliftment of the rural economy by establishing a value chain-based business model of goat rearing in the state.
Goat Valley Working Area
The work area of Goat Valley will be the entire hilly and plains areas of Uttarakhand state.
Proposed Goat Valley Model
The Goat Valley scheme is proposed to be established in the state in the hub and spoke model.
“HUB” (Breeding Center)
Hub in the Goat Valley Scheme means the establishment of a breeding center. The hub will be set up by the Animal Husbandry Department, Uttarakhand or Uttarakhand Sheep Goat Rabbit Farmer Cooperative Federation Ltd (USGCF) or progressive goat breeder/ entrepreneur. One hub is proposed in each Goat Valley.
Breeding Units of 525 (500 females + 25 males)/ 320 (300 females + 20 males)/ 210 (200 females + 10 males) / 105 (100 females + 05 males) goats will be set up, on which round the year Goats of the high-quality breed will be produced. Breedable goats in Hub will be supplied to the Goat Unit of goat farmers established in Spoke on a priority basis.
Hub is a complete goat production commercial unit, in which high-quality goat breeds producing meat and milk will be reared.
“SPOKE” (Goat Unit)
About 100 goat units (spokes) will be established in each goat valley and the breedable goats in the spoke will be supplied mostly from the breeding center (Hub) or as required will be purchased locally/outside the state.
The progeny produced in the goat unit (spoke) will be purchased by the Uttarakhand Sheep Goat Rabbit Farmer Cooperative Federation Ltd (USGCF) according to the prevailing market price.
Goat units (scopes) under Goat Valley will be established with the convergence of District Plan (DP), State Sector, Uttarakhand State Cooperative Development Project (UKCDP), Rural Enterprise Acceleration (REAP) Project, Deen Dayal Upadhyay Yojana (DDUY) and of beneficiary's contribution.
In the 100 Goat units (spokes) set up in each Goat Valley, veterinary services will be provided by the concerned areas Livestock Extension Officer (LEO), Veterinary Officer of Dept. of Animal Husbandry and Field Implementation Unit (FIU), USGCF under the guidance of the Chief Veterinary Officer.