Agreement to increase goat productivity, provide advanced training in breeding and healthcare practises and foster sustainability
India’s goat value chain and livelihoods of rural farmers communities is likely to see a boost, after the country’s leading government institute focusing on goat farming tied up with a global non-governmental organisation. The organisations have agreed to work towards boosting productivity along with generating employment opportunities and combat poverty in India’s rural regions.
The Indian Council of Agricultural Research — Central Institute for Research on Goats (ICAR-CIRG) on October 6, 2023 signed a memorandum of understanding with Heifer India, according to a press release. The focus areas of the agreement include increasing goat productivity, providing advanced training in breeding and healthcare practices and fostering sustainability throughout the goat value chain.
The collective mission is not only to increase productivity, but also to create jobs and combat poverty in India’s rural areas, the press briefing stated. Both organisations pledged to provide specialised training, unwavering support, and essential resources to smallholder farmers and community agro-veterinary entrepreneurs.
“We are dedicated to co-creating lasting impact in smallholder farmer communities by offering capacity strengthening to bolster autonomous action. Moreover, we actively facilitate linkages with private sector value chain partners to ensure the long-term sustainability of community farming enterprises,” Rina Soni, country director, Heifer India said in the statement.
The institute and the organisation share a common purpose — to enhance the lives of smallholder farmers and advance the goat farming sector in India, said Manish Kumar Chatli, director, ICAR-CIRG. “Together, we will forge a brighter future for all, transforming not only the goat value chain but also the destiny of our dedicated farmers, leaving an indelible mark on the landscape of Indian agriculture,” he said.
Both organisations pledged to provide specialised training, unwavering support and essential resources to smallholder farmers and Community Agro-Veterinary Entrepreneurs (CAVEs). Their focus areas include elevating goat productivity, imparting advanced training in breeding and healthcare practices, and fostering sustainability within the goat value chain.
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