Goat Marketing: Channels and Constraints in Maharashtra

Livestock sector plays an important role in generating employment and raising level of income, particularly of poor people and farmers in rural areas of Maharashtra. Due to lack of employment opportunities in the industrial and services sectors, they are dependent on farm and livestock activities for their livelihood to supplement income. The farmers, who have grazing land generally domesticate and rear cows and buffaloes, while the landless and marginalized farmers prefer to rear sheep, goat, and poultry, which are easy and affordable to rear. When they sell goats, there are many instances of cheating in prices, affecting the profit margin.