ADOPTION OF IMPROVED SCIENTIFIC GOAT REARING PRACTICES AND CONSTRAINTS PERCEIVED BY GOAT FARMERS

Abstract

The study was undertaken to assess the adoption level and constraints perceived by goat farmers about improved scientific goat rearing practices. The data was collected through personal interview method with the help of well-structured interview schedule from 60 goat farmers randomly selected in Irumbulikurichi village, Ariyalur district of Tamilnadu. The recommended practices were categorized in to three areas i.e., breeding, feeding and health care management. Overall adoption index of improved goat husbandry practices by the farmers revealed that, feeding practices obtained highest adoption index (52.33%) followed by health care practices (48.83%), breeding practices (42.83%) and also the overall adoption index of goat rearing practices among the farmers is 48 per cent. Likewise, the major constraints perceived by goat farmers were lack of grazing land (88.33%), lack of knowledge on scientific farming practices (80%) followed by lack of credit facility (75%). Hence, the study recommends that innovations in technological interventions on scientific goat farming shall be imparted through vocational training, demonstration of efficient technologies, optimizing the flock size and motivating the goat farmers with extension support and services might help them to adopt recommended improved technologies for sustainable goat production thereby enhancing the farmers’ livelihood.