Indian goats at rest before going out for the day’s grazing (photo credit: ILRI/Susan MacMillan).

‘Fisheries and Animal Resources Development Secretary Bishnupada Sethi is of the view that the small animals sector has immense potential and contributes to the sustenance of small and marginal farmers and landless rural populace in the State.

‘Sethi said this while inaugurating a seminar organised by the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) as part of a Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation-funded International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) project on “Public-Private-Producer-Partnership for small ruminant development in Odisha”.

‘Sethi said the State Government is committed to improving the small animal sector, for which a comprehensive draft small animal development policy has been formulated.  . . .

Various studies reveal that the goat sub-sector has a great potential to contribute to poverty alleviation and offers opportunities where private sector, public sector and producers’ partnership can effect large-scale productivity improvement.

Read the whole article in the Daily Pioneer (India): Small animal sector has immense potential, 21 Feb 2016

Read the following related news clipping from the New Indian Express: Policy for small animal development in state on cards, 20 Feb 2016.

‘In a bid to provide rural livelihood sector a boost, the State Government will soon come out with a comprehensive small animal development policy, Fisheries and Animal resources Development (FARD) Secretary Bishnupada Sethi said here on Friday.

‘Inaugurating a day-long seminar on Public-Private-Producer-Partnership for small ruminant development in Odisha, Sethi said consultations with experts, policy analysts and the cross-section of stakeholders including farmers are on to finalise the Odisha Small Animal Development Policy.

‘The small animal sector has immense potential and contributes to the sustenance of small and marginal farmers and landless rural populace of Odisha. The FARD Department is taking all possible steps for providing regular vaccination against different contagious diseases and routine deworming in sheep and goat, he said.

‘The seminar was organised by International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) as part of Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation funded International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) project with the objective of developing a common understanding about the possibility of goat production and value chain activities as business and collectively develop strategies to address constraints and tap into existing opportunities. . . .’