SOCIO-ECONOMIC PROFILE OF GOAT REARING FARMERS AND THEIR MANAGEMENT PRACTICES IN KHAGRACHHARI DISTRICT, BANGLADESH

Abstract

The goal of the study was to describe the traits of farmers in the Khagrachhari district who raise goats and their methods for managing those animals. For the study, the researchers chose 150 goat-rearing farmers at random from three upazilas in Khagrachhari. According to the findings, a sizable percentage of the respondents were middle-aged (64.67%), had just a primary education (30%), and belonged to large families (56.67%). The majority of farmers (50%) were workers, and 86.67% of them were married. In order to start their goatrearing businesses, more than a third of the farmers—who lacked access to land—took 100% loans from NGOs rather than using their own funds. A platform above the floor was absent from half of the goat huts, which were constructed of tin. Under a free-range system, around one-third of the farmers (36%) allowed their goats to graze on natural fodder (62.67%) and fed them wheat bran (52.67%) as a concentrate. In the region, Black Bengals were the most popular breed. Just 20% of farmers consistently vaccinated their goats, and only 23.33% regularly used anthelmintics. The majority of farmers (66.67%) only had a basic understanding of goat illnesses. The main source of technical assistance was the local veterinary