Targeted goat grazing – A silvipastoral approach in oil palm plantations in north-eastern India

Abstract

Targeted goat grazing offers an innovative and sustainable silvipastoral strategy for managing understory vegetation in oil palm plantations of north-eastern India. By utilising goats as biological weed controllers, plantation managers can reduce dependence on herbicides and mechanical clearing, thereby lowering production costs and minimising environmental impacts. Goats efficiently consume a wide range of grasses, shrubs, and broadleaved weeds while converting otherwise unutilised biomass into valuable products such as meat and manure. The integration of goats with oil palm cultivation enhances resource-use efficiency, improves nutrient recycling, and contributes to soil fertility through manure deposition. This approach also provides additional income opportunities for farmers through goat production, strengthening rural livelihoods and farm resilience. Furthermore, targeted grazing can improve plantation accessibility, reduce fire hazards associated with excessive vegetation growth, and support a more balanced agroecosystem.