Goat rearing scheme launched at Karfectar, South Sikkim

NAMCHI, 18 Dec: To promote self-employment as well as commercial goat farming in the State, the Department of Animal Husbandry, Livestock, Fisheries &Veterinary Science (AH,LF&VS) launched high meat yielding variety goat development programme here at Karfectar today. This is the first such initiative for Sikkim.

Fifteen beneficiaries from Zoom-Salghari constituency were provided with 4 female goats [worth Rs. 9,000 each]. The programme had Minister AH, LF&VS, Dawcho Lepcha as the chief guest while area MLA, Madan Cintury was the guest of honour.
The Minister congratulated the beneficiaries and underlined that it was the vision of the Chief Minister and the SDF government that has made such schemes and programmes possible for the people of Sikkim.
He urged all beneficiaries to make this programme successful and urged them to cooperate with the officers in every way. Commenting on the recent activity among opposition parties, the Minister said that some anti-government people were misleading the people in the name of change but the people must think about the changes brought about by the SDF government in its 18 years of tenure.
The area MLA, in his address, said that all the departments must coordinate with the people’s representatives and the department must maintain transparency in every scheme ensuring that there is no duplicity in the work.
Secretary AH, LF&VS, DP Sharma in his address urged the officers to ensure proper implementation andmonitoring of the scheme. Total 420 farmers will be covered in the state during the financial year 2011-12 and each beneficiary will be provided with 4 goats each, he informed.
A total number of 1,680 goats and suitable numbers of pure breeding buck will also be provided for commercial breeding, Mr Sharma further informed. Intensive training in three phases will be imparted to the farmers by a technically qualified team of officers of the department for skill and scientific management of the goat breeding programme, he added.
Earlier, in his welcome address, JD AH, LF&VS DK Pradhan informed that the objective of the programme is to develop eco-friendly goatery in the state for sustainable economic support to the farmers. To become self sufficient in Chevon meat production for all the requirements of state including local consumption, consumption by Armed forces, Tourism sectors, industrial and power sectors of the state and to provide income opportunities to the small and marginal farmers who have small land holdings are the other objectives, Mr Pradhan informed further adding the sector ensures high returns as compared to traditional agricultural activities.
Later the beneficiaries were also trained on exotic goat rearing by Deputy Director, Dr. TB Sunar who is also the nodal officer for exotic goat cross breeding programme.
The programme was also addressed by JD Feed & Fodder NT Bhutia while it was conducted by Deputy Director, Dr. Mala.