Speakers at a participatory discussion said there is no alternative to promote modern and commercial method in goat farming to improve the management system, growth, production parameter and prolificacy of goat for eradicating the existing protein deficiency.
They mentioned that goat rearing is an integral part of farming animal and proper management can provide maximum production of goat. So, utmost emphasis should be given on bringing the local service providers especially the vaccinators and others concerned under need-based training.
They were addressing a daylong training workshop titled “Skill Development on Vaccination and Treatment of Goat and Poultry and Link to the Producers” held at Pakri Union Parishad hall room under Godagari Upazila in the district yesterday.
Around 40 local service providers including 3 VFAs, 11 vaccinators, 3 drug sellers and 12 farmers attended the training course.
Agriculture Sustainable and Socioeconomic Development Organization (ASSEDO) organized the workshop in association with ‘Promoting Food Security and Livelihoods of Marginalized People of Barind Tract (PFLMB) project’ and Oxfam-Novib.
Godagari Upazila Animal Resource Officer Dr Saiful Islam, Tanore Upazila Animal Resource Officer Dr Mukhlesur Rahman and PFLMB Project Manager Mahabub Jaman conducted the training as resource persons with Agriculturist Rabiul Alam, Executive Director of ASSEDO, in the chair. Technical Officer (Value Chain Development) Muktar Hossain and Field Facilitators Kismat Ara, Arifur Rahman, Ismail Hossain and Sagar Ali also spoke.
The speakers urged the local service providers to reach the animal resource related necessary services to the grassroots growers for boosting the animal resources, particularly livestock and poultry. More importance should be given on extending the requisite services like primary treatment, vaccination and farm management so that the farmers are benefited.
They also called for due importance on adopting modern technology, promotion of high yielding varieties and farmers training to overcome the crisis.
They mentioned that smallholder goat farming is increasingly being promoted by development organizations and policy makers as an option to boost incomes of farmers and to improve rural livelihoods.
As a whole, goat rearing is profitable and generates income, create employment opportunities and insurance against risks and provide food security.
Many of the rural households have now become involved in goat and chicken rearing commercially in this region through various GO-NGO level interventions which is a good sign for eradicating rural poverty, they observed.
