Background/Objectives: To assess the importance of livestock (small ruminant) sector in employment generation and the role of markets in improving livestock value chain.
Methods/Statistical Analysis: The study is based on secondary data analysis. A need for a strong institutional mechanism to support small ruminant keepers and to improvise various activities in livestock value chain such as in Input, Production, Processing, and Distribution have been analysed.
Findings: The small ruminant sector makes an important contribution to Indian economy, provides sustenance to rural population, and leads to poverty alleviation. Apart from having healthy breed of livestock and marketing, processing is also an important step in enhancing value chain in livestock sector. The state with highest production of meat is Uttar Pradesh (19.1 per cent) followed by Andhra Pradesh (15.2 per cent) and West Bengal (10.9 per cent).Revenue of minimum ₹. 11,350 crores will be lost in the state of UP, due to ban on meat exports. For clean meat production and environment protection it is imperative that all slaughter houses of the country are registered. Assistance is required to make the sector organised and increase accessibility to necessary inputs, services and finance.
Improvements/Applications: Sensitisation of farmers on market demand of livestock is imperative to help realise better price in domestic market and will produce healthy pure breed goats for export. Linkages need to be created between goat farmers, processors, and exporters.