September 2026
Low-cost, local interventions are a way to ensure goat farming to remain both ecologically sound and economically profitable. Sasya Shyamala KVK’s dual innovative technologies on goat feed, has transformed goat farming livelihoods in West Bengal.
For smallholders and landless families in West Bengal, goat farming is a preferred livelihood due to its minimal land and capital requirements. The prolific Black Bengal goat is particularly well suited to small-scale production systems.
Traditional semi-intensive goat rearing systems remain highly vulnerable to rising feed costs, degrading pastures, and sub-clinical nutritional deficiencies. Extreme weather events and intense heat frequently accelerate the degradation of natural pastures, creating severe lean periods where quality green fodder is practically non-existent. This makes the year-round provision of preserved feed, such as mixed fodder silage, absolutely essential to sustain growth and prevent seasonal weight loss.
Furthermore, the warm, moisture-laden coastal climate acts as a perfect incubator for gastrointestinal nematodes, leading to exceptionally high internal parasitic loads in grazing herds. In these humid coastal zones, adequate mineral intake is therefore critical to boost the goats' immune systems, giving them the physiological resilience needed to withstand the blood-sucking effects of internal parasites and maintain optimal health. Robust mineral nutrition—particularly trace elements like iron, copper, and cobalt—is not just an optional supplement but a non-negotiable requirement.
Why Did the Block Win? The mineral block gave animals a slight edge in growth and a massive edge in health. Because the block is available in the night shelter, goats can lick it continuously according to their physiological needs. This steady, micro-dose supply of trace elements like zinc, copper, and cobalt optimizes the microbial population in the goat's rumen, allowing them to break down celluloses far more efficiently. Also, goats with access to mineral blocks maintained excellent eye-mucosa colors (FAMACHA scores), indicating high hemoglobin levels and robust immunity against blood-sucking internal parasites—a frequent menace in humid climates. |
Addressing this critical need, the Sasya Shyamla Krishi Vigyan Kendra—under the aegis of the Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda Educational and Research Institute (RKMVERI) in the coastal South 24 Parganas district—has spearheaded field-level interventions to enhance the livelihoods of local goat farmers. Sasya Shyamala KVK has been organizing off-campus training and farm schools on improved goat husbandry practices across four villages (Kusthia, Balarampur, Joykrishnapur, and Moulihati) in the Sonarpur block of South 24 Parganas district since 2024.
The KVK approach focuses mainly on two highly effective yet underutilized agro-technologies: introduction of multi-nutrient mineral blocks and the strategic use of mixed fodder silages.
A simple change in mineral delivery
The traditional method of using mineral powder requiring precise daily measuring and thorough mixing with concentrates, presents significant hurdles for busy rural households. On the other hand mineral blocks offer a "self-delivery" mechanism where animals consume minerals according to their physiological needs via licking behaviour.
To validate these interventions, a 90-day On-Farm Trial was conducted at Moulihati village between September and November 2025. The trial involved 14 individual goat keepers and a total of 21 Black Bengal goats. The study compared three groups: a traditional control group (grazing without minerals), a powder supplement group, and a group with free access to mineral lick blocks.
The findings (Table 1) reveal that the delivery mechanism matters just as much as the nutrients themselves, and the results offer a strong case for the 'self-service' block system:
Farmers noted that goats and kids were sometimes hesitant to lick the newly introduced hard blocks. When a small amount of molasses was smeared on the surface of the blocks, the sweet taste immediately attracted the goats. Once the animals tasted the blocks and grew accustomed to them, they enthusiastically and instinctively integrated the licking behavior into their daily routine.
Box 1: Chandana: an inspiration to many Chandana Naskar, a BA (Hons) graduate and a women’s SHG leader, of Moulihati village started goat farming in the backyard in 2017. Over time, she participated in several capacity-building programmes offered by the KVK and completed a four-month skill development certificate course in goat farming in 2025. Today, Chandana manages a flock of nearly 100 goats, including Black Bengal goats and Black Bengal–Sirohi crosses. Chandana participated in the On-Farm Trial on mineral delivery systems. She observed that the goats had good growth, had better skin and coat and a marked reduction in anemia. Following the trial’s success, she continued using mineral blocks and complemented them with silage during lean periods. It has substantially improved the goats growth rates and reproductive efficiency, thereby enhancing her net returns. Chandana has further influenced a number of women farmers in the region resulting in rapid horizontal expansion of the technologies. |
Silage: Creating fodder reserves
During lean periods, farmers often depend on purchased grains and concentrates, increasing the cost of goat production. The KVK therefore developed specialized silage formulations tailored to meet the nutritional requirements of Black Bengal goats.
The Krishi Vigyan Kendra conducted approximately 50 field trials on biofortified maize hybrids (IQMH 203 and LQMH 1) through the Cluster Frontline Demonstration (CFLD) approach. The silages made from bio fortified maize varieties have the potential to enhance goat production through metabolic modulations. Silage was produced using silage bale-producing machines, in collaboration with Sundarini Organics Feed and Fodder Crop Producers and Supplier Cooperative Society Limited—a Farmer Producer Company (FPC) located in the Patharpratima block of the district.
The intervention also examined the possibility of using maize as a dual-purpose crop. Lower leaves were harvested for fodder while retaining grain production. In the field-based economic analysis, the dual-purpose system produced 3,000 kg of defoliated leaf fodder per hectare while maize grain yield remained broadly comparable to the grain-only system. Converting this harvested leaf biomass into silage establishes a critical, low-cost nutritional reserve for Black Bengal goats during scarce periods.
Silage making also required careful management. The main challenge was fungal spoilage when the anaerobic environment was compromised. Through hands-on training, farmers were encouraged to use standard, durable silo bags and ensure proper airtight packing.
Conclusion
Sasya Shyamala KVK’s innovative agro-technologies, specifically multi-nutrient mineral blocks and biofortified mixed fodder silage, have transformed goat farming in West Bengal. By boosting weight gain, enhancing parasite resilience, and reducing methane emissions, these sustainable interventions successfully empower vulnerable rural smallholders while establishing a highly productive, circular agricultural economy
References
Aditia, R., et al.. (2014). Effects of mineral block supplementation on goat performance. Journal of Livestock Research. https://doi.org/10.56093/ijans.v92i10.124645
Jasmine, A. J., Sarkar, U., Roy, M., & Datta, S.. (2022). Influence of genetic and non-genetic factors on growth performance in Black Bengal goats under field condition in West Bengal. Indian Journal of Animal Sciences, 92(10), 1194-1198. https://doi.org/10.56093/ijans.v92i10.124645
Sarbaswarup Ghosh, Sourav Basak, Krishnendu Ray,
Sasya Shyamala Krishi Vigyan Kendra,
Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda Educational & Research Institute (RKMVERI),
Arapanch, Sonarpur, South 24 Parganas, West Bengal
Email: drsarba@rediffmail.com
Abhinandan Malik
Paschim Banga Go Sampad Bikash Sanstha,
Hooghly, West Bengal
