Constraints Perceived by Small Scale Goat Farmers of Kamrup, Kamrup Metro and Morigaon Districts of Assam

Abstract

The present study was conducted to know the constraints perceived by the small scale goat farmers of Kamrup, Kamrup Metro and Morigaon districts of Assam. The data obtained on various constraints perceived by the goat farmers under the study were tabulated and analyzed statistically by using Garrett’s Ranking Technique. The study was conducted at Goat Research Station, Assam Agricultural University, Burnihat, Kamrup Metro, Assam during the years, 2020-21 and 2021-22. For the purpose the research station prepared a questionnaire for surveying and data collection about various constraints faced by the goat farmers and entrepreneurs of three districts viz. Kamrup, Kamrup Metro and Morigaon who visited the station during the period for seeking advises and taking training on Scientific goat rearing and management. The farmers were asked to identify the constraints he/ she and their fellow farmers of their villages faced with respect to rearing of goats in their locality and to rank the constraints from 1 to 13 according to the seriousness of the constraints faced by them. The higher incidence of diseases was the major constraints of goat farmers with mean score of 77.66 and ranked first among the constraints in goat rearing. Scarcity of feed and fodder (63.76), lack of knowledge on scientific goat farming (63.25) and inadequate veterinary facilities (61.07) were ranked second, third and fourth major constraints, respectively. Similarly, high rate of kid mortality, lack of grazing land and scarcity of breedable male goat (buck) were ranked fifth, sixth and seventh, respectively as constraints in goat rearing. Non-availability of nutrient rich fodder trees/grasses, inbreeding, recurrent flood and lower sale prices of goats were some other constraints for the goat farmers surveyed during the study. From the study, it can be concluded that the small scale goat farmers of the districts of Kamrup, Kamrup Metro and Morigaon have a lot of constraints in goat rearing, the major being the incidence of diseases and scarcity of feed and fodder.