The TEC (Training and Education Centre), ICAR-IVRI, Pune, in collaboration with CINI (Collectives for Integrated Livelihood Initiatives), a Tata Trust initiative in Nandurbar, conducted follow-up visits on 28th and 29th April 2025, to evaluate the performance and health of goats distributed to beneficiary ST farmers and to analyze the impact of goat farming under the TSP programme in Dhadgaon and Akkalkuwa talukas of Nandurbar district, Maharashtra. Dr HP Aithal, Principal Scientist from TEC Pune, and Dr Ravi Kumar Jha, a PG scholar from the Division of Livestock Economics and Statistics, IVRI Bareilly, along with CINI Trust officials, visited 12 TSP beneficiary farmers in Dhadgaon on 28th April and 8 farmers in Akkalkuwa on 29 th April 2025. The team assessed the housing, feeding, and overall management of the goat units, engaging with farmers on different aspects of farming. Data was collected on new kid births, disease occurrences, goat mortality, sales, and income generated. Housing and management practices were inspected, challenges identified, and solutions suggested. Most farmers were feeding green fodder, including Hybrid Napier and Dashrat grass, along with homemade concentrate mixtures. Farmers were given guidance on formulating balanced rations using local resources where needed. Additionally, a 2 kg mineral-vitamin mixture was distributed to each farmer, particularly for weaker, debilitated, and pregnant goats. The positive impact of the initiative was evident. In the past six months, 60 new kids were born across the 20 participating goat units. Moreover, 15 farmers generated a significant income of ₹2,77,200 (Rupees two lakh seventy seven thousand two hundred only) through the sale of 30 goats. This income has been instrumental in improving their livelihoods, contributing to goat shed renovations, feed purchases, and other essential household expenses. Further, the stock of goats increased from 164 to 183. To gain a deeper understanding of the broader socio-economic changes brought about by this goat farming under the TSP programme initiated by TEC Pune, comprehensive interviews were conducted with all beneficiary farmers. The successful coordination of this program was led by Dr HP Aithal from TEC Pune, alongside Mr VD Patil Er and Mr Deepak Sharma Er from CINI Trust Nandurbar.
https://www.ivri.nic.in/News/TSP_752025.pdf
