World Goat Day Celebrates Goat Farming and Women Empowerment
Bhubaneswar, Odisha – On August 21st, Passing Gifts – A subsidiary of Heifer International – hosted a landmark World Goat Day celebration, bringing together a diverse group of stakeholders to spotlight the critical role of goat farming and its impact on rural livelihoods. The event underscored the organization’s dedication to supporting goat farmers and women through various initiatives.
Inaugural Address:
Sh. Akshya Biswal, Program Director at Passing Gifts, inaugurated the event by highlighting the organization’s commitment to transformative projects. He detailed the Odisha Socio-Economic Development (OSED) Project, which supports 30,000 families in Mayurbhanj and Keonjhar, and discussed the Hatching Hope project for backyard poultry and the TRANSFORM project, which benefits 40,000 smallholder farmers. Biswal emphasized the progress made by Community Animal and Veterinary Entrepreneurs (CAVEs) trained by Passing Gifts and called for government certification to enhance their role and effectiveness in delivering veterinary services.
Panel Discussion Highlights:
The event featured a distinguished panel discussing sustainable goat farming practices, issues, and opportunities. Panelists included:
- Ambika Prasad Nanda, Head of CSR at TATA Steel, emphasized the importance of Lakhpati goat entrepreneurs as role models, stating, “Lakhpati goat entrepreneurs can serve as excellent role models for aspiring farmers. By providing them with the necessary support and resources, we can inspire and empower others to achieve similar success in the goat farming industry.”
- A.P. Acharya, Head of Veterinary Pathology at OUAT, spoke about the crucial role of corporate partnerships in supporting goat-based livelihoods. He highlighted their department’s work with Ganjam goats and discussed common goat diseases and management practices.
- Rajeev Sharma, Deputy Director at VOTI, described goats as “ATMs” and “moving crops” during harsh conditions and emphasized the importance of supporting women farmers. He also discussed the availability of model goat houses and various government schemes.
- Swarup Sharma, Manager CSR at HDFC Bank, discussed government schemes and policies, emphasizing, “Streamlining government schemes is essential to better support small-scale farmers and enhance their access to resources.”
- Biswanath Sahoo, Principal Scientist at ICAR-CIWA, focused on empowering women through improved goat farming practices and stressed the high nutritive value of goat products.
- Ranjan Kumar Mohanta, Head of KVK, NRRI, Cuttack, discussed the importance of indigenous practices, GI Tagging for indigenous varieties, and the impact of deworming and vaccination. He also addressed challenges such as staff shortages and the need for effective CAVE training.
Way Forward:
The World Goat Day celebration highlighted the collective effort required to address challenges and seize opportunities in goat farming. Passing Gifts remains committed to fostering collaborations and partnerships to enhance the sustainability of goat farming and empower women in rural communities. By working together with various stakeholders, the organization aims to drive impactful solutions and support the ongoing development of the agricultural sector. Similar events were also organised in Bihar where we work with 70,000 farmers.
