KOCHI: Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Ernakulam is planning to promote goat farming as a profitable venture for safe meat production. To develop goat farming as a sustainable venture, KVK is planning to constitute a Farmer Producer Company.
The Kendra is also collaborating with ICAR-Central Institute of Research in Goats, Makhdoom, Uttar Pradesh for recent technological inputs for the programme.
In the first step, the agency will prepare a directory of goat farmers, stable or shed manufacturers, meat dealers and related entrepreneurs in Ernakulam district.
“Goat rearing is easy and profitable enterprise when compared to cow farming. Not big investment is needed and even women and children can easily manage the animals. KVK has proposed the initiative to ensure availability of safe to eat meat,” said Shinoj Subrahmanian, programme coordinator and senior scientist, KVK.
In view of the scare of use of antibiotics in chicken and poor hygiene standards of other meats, there has been high demand for domestically produced meat products. With a requirement of 3.5 lakh metric tonnes per annum, Kerala is the highest consumer of meat while the state’s domestic production is only about 2 lakh metric tonnes.
The Farmer Producer Company will give training and support in rearing the animals. Goat meat is one of the choicest meats and has huge domestic demand. Despite being classified as red meat, goat is leaner and contains less cholesterol, fat than both pork and beef.
