High meat yielding breed of goats distributed in South Sikkim

NAMCHI, 18 Jan: The Animal Husbandry Department distributed 120 goats to 30 farmers of Temi-Namphing and Namthang-Rateypani here at the Namchi Veterinary ground under the scheme of High Meat Yielding Goat Distribution programme today.
A total of 15 beneficiaries were selected from each constituency and provided with 4 female goats of high yielding breed. Namchi Municipal Council Chairman, BT Tamang, present as the chief guest of the programme, expressed that although the government has launched many programmes and schemes for farmers, they have not been able to take full advantage due to lack of awareness. He congratulated all the beneficiaries and urged them to utilize the benefit provided to generate income in the future.
Director AH, LF &VS, Tika Lucksom in his address informed that the total requirement of cheval (mutton) meat in our state is around 5663 metric tonnes but our production is only 901 metric tonnes which means that there is huge potential for goat rearing in our state. Stating that the government has initiated many schemes through the AH, LF &VS Department, the Director expressed his dissatisfaction over the farmers not being able to take full advantage of these schemes.
He further informed that during his visits to different villages he found that the high yielding cows provided to the farmers along with other schemes had been carelessly misused by the farmers. The schemes introduced by the government are for uplifting farmers but they take it as a one time benefit which fails the whole scheme and programme of the government, he added.
He further urged all farmers to cooperate with the government and make proper use of the scheme.
JD South, Dr. DK Pradhan delivering his welcome address informed that they had brought these high yielding breed of goats from different parts of West Bengal at the cost of Rs 9000 each and require proper care for deriving long term benefits.
A short training programme for the beneficiaries was also conducted by Deputy Director, Karfectar Dr. Tilak Sunar.