Port Blair, Sept. 29: The Member of Parliament, Shri Kuldeep Rai Sharma has requested the Secretary (Animal Husbandry), A&N Administration to set up a Model Goat Farm consisting at least 500 Nos. improved Goats at the existing Goat Farm, at Namunaghar village by expanding and developing the existing Goat Farm for distribution of Goat Kids of large scale. This would benefit thousands of interested unemployed youths, house wives and farmers for their livelihood in wake of Covid-19 Pandemic. He also suggested creation of advance treatment facilities for pet animals by installing X-Ray and Ultrasound machines at Veterinary Hospital, Goal Ghar, Port Blair and ensure availability of medicines for the pet animals across A&N Islands.
The MP informed that in the wake of pandemic, many people have lost their livelihood and become unemployed. They are turning to adopt Cattle Farming for livelihood now. The livestock farmers, unemployed youth and other interested persons who are willing to adopt Goatery as livelihood are facing various difficulties viz. good breeds of Goats in A&N Islands, Goats and Goat kids are not readily available for purchase and local Goats found in Islands are smaller in size and hardly weight around 10Kgs. The Department of Animal Husbandry rears some breed of Goats but in small in numbers and they are unable to meet the demand of public. Due to this situation, many persons get discouraged and are unable to start Goatery for their livelihood.
He also said that the Department of Animal Husbandry is running two small Goat Farms, one at Dollygunj and the other at Namunaghar farm. At Dollygunj, the land is limited while there is large land available with the department at Namunaghar, South Andaman. The building at Namunaghar Goats where maintained are very old, said to be constructed during British time is in a pathetic condition. Hence, the present existing Goat Farm at Namunaghar needs to be expanded and modified by setting up of a "Model Goat Farm" consisting of at least 500 Nos. of improved breeds of goats like Jamuna Pari/Beetal or any hardly meat breed, so that the interested unemployed youth, farmers and other persons can get Goat Kid or adult stock rearing from such farm for their survival.