Keonjhar: Even as Juang tribals living in remote areas of Banshapal block of this district try hard to improve their financial condition through goat farming, absence of market facility remains a major hurdle in their socio-economic growth, a report said.
Goat farming is popular among the residents of tribal hamlets near the forest. While the goats get adequate fodder inside the forest, the demand for meat of these naturally-grown animals is high in urban areas. They don’t get the right price at the time of selling their goats to traders, said a goat farmer of Panasanasa village under Banshapal block. They are taken for a ride by the traders in the absence of a weight measurement tool to know the exact weight of their goats, he added.
According to reports, all 22 families of Panasanasa have herds of goats (not less than 15 in a herd) and they heavily rely on goat farming to eke out a living. One member from every family takes the herds to the forest for grazing, said Benudhar Juang of the village.
A goat is sold at a price between Rs 7,000 and Rs 16,000. As goat farming is a profitable profession, villagers prefer this business to support their families. Significantly, the villagers have not taken loan from banks or other financial bodies for the farming.
The demand for goats from Banshapal, Telkoi and Harichandanpur is high during marriage season, said Fakir Chandra Mishra.
Apart from goat farming, the tribals resort to shifting cultivation to meet their food requirement, said Guru Parida, a co-villager.
As every family earns up to Rs 20,000 a month by selling two goats, creating proper marketing facility would improve their financial condition. This can keep them from shifting cultivation which leads to felling of valuable trees in the forest, said environmentalist Bimbadhar Behera. This apart, plantation of flower and fruit plants in the forest can help them grow economically, Behera added.
Special development council chairman (SDC) Ramray Muduya said it is essential to guard the traditional system of tribals. The development projects should be based on their needs and geographical environment, added the SDC chairman.
PNN
