Patna: The Bihar government has announced plans to introduce goat milk at Sudha dairy booths across the state, alongside cow and buffalo milk, as part of a broader initiative aimed at strengthening the rural economy and improving public health.
Officials said the move will also create new income opportunities for livestock farmers while making goat milk more widely available to consumers.
Under the initiative, the government will provide subsidies of up to 90% to economically weaker families to encourage goat rearing. Authorities say the scheme is intended to enable rural households to begin goat farming with minimal investment and sell milk directly to Sudha, the state-run dairy cooperative network.
The Dairy, Fisheries and Animal Resources Department is preparing a proposal to expand the programme, including plans to market goat meat through municipal corporations and local urban bodies. According to department secretary Shirsat Kapil Ashok, sales could initially begin in major cities such as Bhagalpur, Muzaffarpur, Gaya, Darbhanga and Purnia.
Details of the initiative were discussed during a one-day workshop on climate-resilient goat rearing and management held on Monday. The event was inaugurated by Surendra Mehta, Bihar’s minister for dairy, fisheries and animal resources.
Officials said the government plans to expand Sudha dairy booths across the state, with the long-term goal of establishing them in every panchayat.
As part of the strategy, a state-level goat federation will be created and trained goat-rearing specialists will be appointed in each district. These specialists will receive training at the Central Institute for Research on Goats in Mathura.
The government also plans to collaborate with Bihar Animal Sciences University and the Central Goat Research Institute to provide scientific guidance and technical support to farmers.
Mehta said goat farming has the potential to significantly improve the economic condition of poor families in rural areas.
Under the subsidy scheme, families below the poverty line are being provided with three breeding goats at subsidies ranging between 80% and 90%. According to the minister, more than 102,000 goats have already been distributed to over 34,000 families across the state.
Bihar currently has an estimated goat population of around 12.8 million, placing it fourth among Indian states in terms of goat numbers.
Officials also noted that a proposal to establish a goat semen bank in Gaya has recently been approved, which is expected to support breeding programmes and further boost goat farming in the state.
