Constraints faced by farmers in feeding and breeding practices of goat rearing in Lalitpur District of Uttar Pradesh

Abstract

The present study was conducted in Lalitpur district of Uttar Pradesh, India, to identify and analyze the key constraints faced by goat rearers in feeding, health management, and marketing practices. Lalitpur was purposively selected due to its considerable goat population and lack of prior research in this domain. A total of 120 respondents were selected from twelve villages across four tehsils—Lalitpur, Mehroni, Talbehat, and Pali—using stratified random sampling. Primary data were collected through a pre-tested interview schedule and constraints were ranked based on respondent scores. Findings revealed that in the feeding domain, shrinkage of grazing land (85%) and non-availability of green fodder (80%) were the most critical challenges. Health-related constraints were dominated by poor vaccination coverage (80.83%) and unavailability of breeding stock (79.16%), while market-related issues were led by collusive trader activities (85%) and lack of market information (81.66%). The study concludes that addressing these multifaceted constraints through targeted policy measures, enhanced veterinary services, and market reforms is essential for improving goat productivity and enhancing farmer livelihoods in the region.