Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh has witnessed a decline in its goat population, even though the local Jamuna Pari variety is more highly valued than cattle, producing up to 4 liters of milk daily. Sheep numbers also stand at just over 12 lakh, and the government aims to increase them to over a crore, as their wool is extensively used in carpet and rug weaving.
Government Initiatives to Boost Small Livestock
The animal husbandry department is now looking to revise existing policies to promote the rearing and increase the numbers of these animals through various means, including artificial insemination. The department is organizing a two-day seminar on June 17-18 in Lucknow focusing on small livestock such as pigs, sheep, and goats. During the event, several MoUs will be signed to develop local breeds, promote their conservation, and discuss their economic value.
Decline in Jamuna Pari Goat Population
According to initial estimates from livestock data, the number of Jamuna Pari goats has fallen by approximately 2.85% since 2019. This breed, reared in and around the Auraiya and Etawah districts, is so prized that organized gangs of thieves specifically target and steal these goats. It is valued for its milk, which yields between 2 to 4 liters per day, used for producing ghee and even in soap making.
Additional Chief Secretary of Animal Husbandry, Mukesh Meshram, stated, “People have moved away from rearing this goat for multiple reasons, including urbanization, smaller farmholds, and people moving out for jobs. However, for small households, it is an extremely valuable asset. Products from its milk, like ghee, can be monetized and also consumed locally. The government is now going to provide subsidies for its rearing.”
Promotion of Bundelkhandi Goat and Sheep Breeds
Another goat variety to be promoted alongside Jamuna Pari is the Bundelkhandi, native to the Bundelkhand region. The government will focus not only on financial subsidies but also on artificial insemination, cluster farming, and other support mechanisms.
The government will also encourage sheep rearing, emphasizing indigenous varieties like Muzaffarnagri and Sonpari. The state currently has around 12 lakh sheep, an increase from the previous census but still low compared to a population of about 25 crore. Meshram noted that UP’s sheep wool is not suitable for clothing but is extensively used in the rug and carpet industry for weaving. “We can easily increase the number of these animals to over a crore and make the state self-reliant in fiber availability. The central government’s Mission Fibre, launched in this year’s budget, will be used to promote the rearing of local sheep for this purpose,” he added.
