Exploring the Current Scenario and Profitability Analysis of Goat Farming in Three Distinct Regions of Bangladesh

Goat farming in Bangladesh stands as a promising frontier of opportunity, driving rural economies and offering a sustainable livelihood to millions of landless and marginal farmers. This study aimed to assess the socio-economic condition, management practices, and profitability of goat farming in the Hilly, Barind, and Plain Land regions of Bangladesh. Data were gathered from 90 randomly selected goat-raising farmers across four sub-districts from Bandarban, Rajshahi, and Jashore districts. Goat farming was a prominent activity in the Barind region, where 70% of farmers were engaged in agriculture. Farmers in the Hilly region predominantly relied on semi-extensive or free-range rearing systems (100%), while Barind and Plain Land regions employed more structured housing and feed supplementation for their goat. The average number of goats per household 7.97, was highest in the Barind region. Disease outbreaks, especially Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) were common across all regions, with the highest disease prevalence in the Plain Land. The Benefit-cost Ratio (BCR) of goat farming was highest in the Barind (1.94), followed by the Hilly (1.82) and Plain Land regions (1.63). However, major constraints across all regions included high feed prices, disease outbreaks, and inadequate access to vaccines and veterinary services. The study highlighted the need for improved management practices, better breeding techniques, affordable feed prices, and adequate health care facilities to enhance the income generation from the goat enterprise. Therefore, this study also emphasizes improving farmers’ knowledge through hands-on training, promoting methods and technologies of scientific management practices to ensure the profitability and sustainability of goat farming.