National Goat Research Program in Increasing the Productivity of Goat Farmers
Project in Nepal
Community-based Goat Breeding Program for Enhancing Productivity and Livelihood of Smallholder Farmers of Different Agro-Ecological Zones in Nepal
Timeframe: December 2019 - September 2021
Funding: USAID
Principal investigator (PI) and lead institution
- Raju Kadel, Chief and Senior Scientist, Goat Research Station, Nepal Agricultural Research Council (NARC)
Co-PI and collaborator institutions
- Neena Amatya Gorkhali, Chief and Senior Scientist, Animal Breeding Division, NARC
- Smrittee Kala Panta, Director of Planning and Outreach, Samriddhi Agriculture Research and Development Pvt. Ltd.
- Nirajan Bhattarai, Assistant Professor and Chairman, Department of Animal Breeding and Biotechnology, Agriculture and Forestry University
- Swoyam Prakash Shrestha, Chief and Senior Scientist, Animal Health Research Division, NARC
- Luma Nidhi Pandey, Chief and Senior Scientist, Animal Nutrition Division, NARC
Project Plan
The community-based goat breeding program (CGBP) is a system of harnessing genetic resources, providing best management practice training and ecosystem management in which livestock keepers make informed decisions on identification, priority setting and implementation of activities that sustainably improve goat production.
The research team, comprised of the Nepal Agricultural Research Council, Agriculture and Forestry University, and Samriddhi Agriculture Research and Development, will jointly use participatory performance evaluation to identify a suitable breed with characteristics preferred by female and male goat farmers. The team will establish a long-term program for genetic improvement coupled with improved goat husbandry practices (such as animal nutrition and disease management). By conducting this animal breeding research from the bottom-up, in a manner that accounts for men’s and women’s interests, needs, responsibilities, and differentiated access to and control over various production related decisions, the research team will be able propose a CGBP that will lead to the creation of a data management tool for breeders that is also gender-responsive.
The overarching goal of this research is to sustainably improve goat breeding in order to improve the livelihoods of smallholder goat farmers, particularly women.
Objectives
The main objectives are:
1) to develop and test a community-based pedigree/individual/progeny performance recording system (PPRS) for goat breeding in selected communities of Nepal;
2) to promote improved animal nutrition and disease management practices among participating farmers to augment the breeding effect resulting in enhanced goat production and productivity; and
3) to generate and communicate evidence on the relevance of Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) issues in community-based goat breeding program in Nepal.
Geographic Focus
Two areas of mid-hills and lowland serve as primary research sites:
- Goat Research Station, Bandipur and station in Tanahum district
- Feed the Future KISAN II area in Bardia district
A maximum of 1,000 goats will be registered at each site, and about 200 farmers will be targeted for improved goat husbandry training. From Agriculture and Forestry University, 10 students will be involved in data collection. Types of data being collected include management, breeds and breeding systems, feed availability, feeding systems, disease management, and socioeconomic and gender data.
The research team will collaborate and exchange learning with the other projects in Nepal of the Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Livestock Systems.
More Information
October 2020 research update KADEL VGM (Virtual General Meeting)
Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Livestock Systems is part of Feed the Future
