AICRP on Goat Improvement

All India Coordinated Research Project (AICRP) on Goat Improvement has been redesigned with modified objectives and technical programmes to accommodate farmers flock for long term genetic improvement under prevailing ecosystems . The project also enables conservation of goat genetic resources in their area of evolution and adaptation. The project explores genetic variations in local breeds through structured and systematic pedigree and performance recording of goats.Presently, fourteen goat breeds are covered through eighteen centres located across the country which are coordinated through a Coordinating Unit located at CIRG, Makhdoom, Mathura. Three breeds i.e. Barbari, Jamunapari and Sirohi are being maintained under semi-intensive farming system with optimum feeding to explore theirgenetic potential in given environment. Other breeds viz. Assam Hill goat at Guwahati, Black Bengal at Kolkata and Ranchi, Gaddi at Palampur (HP), Marwari at Bikaner, Osma nabadi at Phaltan(Satara district of Maharashtra),Pantja at GBPUAT, Pantnagar,Sangamneri at Rahuri, Sirohi at Vallabhnagar (Udaipur), Ganjam at Bhuvaneshwar, Surti at Navsari and Malabari at Thrissurare being improved under farmer’s flock in their respective home tract. Each field unit was persuaded to take up additional forth clusters as per revised technical programme of AICRP by the end of the year almost all units have adopted four clusters. A list of approved centre of AICRP on Goat improvement is shown in Table 1.Four units were persuaded to expand their area of coverage in Tribal areas under Tribal sub plan fund of the project. Assam hill goat unit is also operational in NEH region. In the XII plan from year 2014-15 Changthangi goat breed from Laddakh of region of J&K was added for conducting research on goats producing Pashmina under cold desert climate. The major thrust of the project is to build up long term capacity of goat keepers through technology demonstration, capacity building, application of health management practices andintroduction of genetically superior breeder goats for enhancing their production and reproduction potential.