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Sci Tech
FARMER'S NOTEBOOK
When cashing in on young goats becomes kid stuff
M.J. PRABU
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She has won the ‘Best Woman Farmer’ award from the University
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— Photo: M.J. Prabu
Model farm: Mrs. S. Saradhamany of Coimbatore District, Tamil Nadu in her goat shed.
Integrated farming has always been advised by agricultural scientists especially for small scale farmers across the country.As the average land holding is small in countries such as India, the resource-inadequate farmers need to be assured of a regular income through economically viable and socially acceptable farm enterprises which will complement their cropping activity
through crop and livestock integration, according to Dr. C. Ramasamy, Vice Chancellor of the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU), Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu.
Gaining popularity
This type of farming is fast gaining popularity in several villages across Tamil Nadu as farmers are now more aware that by integrating animal husbandry along with their crops, their income can be doubled, and if there is any loss due to crop failure, the impact is not so severe unlike for farmers who practise monocrops, explained Dr. E. Vadivel, Director of Extension Education of the University.
Realising importance
Compared to the last 5-7 years there are more farmers in the South who are slowly realising the importance of integrated farming and have been successfully trained in several animal husbandry practices such as cattle, goat, pig and poultry rearing by the several Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs).
Mrs. S. Saradhamani is one such progressive lady farmer of Perianiackenpalayam village in Coimbatore District. With hardly 2-3 acres, Saradhamani has been successfully integrating goat, cattle rearing, vermicompost manufacturing and growing a number of crop varieties such as sunflower, vegetables and high yielding fodder grass varieties.
Effective recycling
“Her farm was selected as one of the model farms by our University for conducting farmers’ participatory research programmes on integrated farming systems in low external input sustainable environment” said, Prof. R. Vijayaraghavan, Head, KVK, Coimbatore.
He also added that effective recycling of farm residues and waste is possible when complementary farm enterprises are judiciously integrated.
A goat shed was constructed on her farm with financial assistance from the University, which also supplied her with about 5 female and 1 male Tellicherry goats.
Tellicherry goats are mainly reared for mutton purposes, and stall feeding is highly suitable for this breed. “In about 3 years I have earned about Rs. 75,000 from the sale of goats alone,” she said.
Why goat rearing?
But why did she prefer to pay more attention to goat rearing when cattle would have been a better option? “Rearing goats is relatively easier compared to cattle as the expenditure involved in goat rearing is less when compared to cattle.
“The feed for my animals is mostly grown in my field. In fact I spend about only Rs. 2 per day as feed cost for one animal.
“A female goat gives birth to 4 kids in a year and the kids are sold for Rs, 2,000 each when they attain 3-4 months of age.
“Also, selling the goats is easy when compared to cattle as there are no middlemen involved, as farmers approach me directly if they need any animals. The cost factor is small when compared to that of cattle.
Farmers can easily pay the small amount for buying the goat kids unlike that of cattle which costs several thousands. In short, goats are similar to ATM cards which can be used to get money in times of emergency,” she said.
More beneficial
Similarly like cattle dung the dung of goats can also used for making vermicompost.
The vermicompost made from goat dung has been found to be more beneficial when compared to that of cattle, as the crops turn dark green in colour in 2-3 days after its application, whereas the vermicompost made from cattle dung takes at least 3-4 months to act on the plants.
Mrs. Saradhamani has won the ‘Best Woman Farmer’ award from the University and is also the Farmers Discussion Group Convenor of KVK of TNAU in Coimbatore.
Readers can contact Mrs. S. Saradhamani at Chinnamathampalayam, Perianaickenpalayam Taluk, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu- 641-019, and Prof. R. Vijayaraghavan, Head, Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu-641-003, email: profvijayaraghavan@yahoo. com, mobile : 98947 41144.
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