Contribution of goat husbandry to household income in the Punjab (Pakistan): A Review
- Publikations-Art
- Zeitschriftenbeitrag (peer-reviewed)
- Autoren
- Teufel,N.; Kuettner,K; Gall,C.F.
- Erscheinungsjahr
- 1998
- Veröffentlicht in
- Small Ruminant Research
- Band/Volume
- 28/2
- Seite (von - bis)
- 101-107
A survey of landless and small-holder households was conducted in the Pakistan Punjab in 1994, focusing on the characterisation of their goat husbandry and their household structure, as well as the contribution made by goat husbandry. In total, 53 households were interviewed with the help of a questionnaire. Out of these households, 42 had received a goat from a farmers' organisation as a loan. The economics of goat husbandry were analysed first by determining the gross margins of goat husbandry, of further animal husbandry and of crop production for each currently goat-keeping household. Secondly, the profit of a goat distributed by the farmers' organisation was calculated for each recipient household. The households were classified according to their economic success with goat husbandry and then compared with regard to structural parameters. Finally, the households were classified according to categorical characteristics such as main source of income. These categories were then compared with regards to success with goat husbandry. The results of the economic analysis show wide variation between the individual households. However, in successful households, goat husbandry contributes 12% to the total agricultural gross margin. The profit achieved per received goat is close to the non-food expenses per head in the successful households. Increasing the household income represents the most important objective of goat husbandry. Further aims are improving liquidity and supplying animals for ceremonial slaughter. The characterisation of households that are economically successful in regard to goat husbandry, shows that they have little or no land, and no regular substantial off-farm income. Therefore, these households rely on goat husbandry to provide a considerable part of their income; thus, they manage their goats profitably.