Success Story: Empowering Women Farmers through Adoption of Machan-Type Goat Sheds

Gauranga Das and Parag Saikia

Background

In the rural areas of Sankarghola, Ghilaguri and Boitamari gaon panchayat in Bongaigaon district of Assam, goat rearing has traditionally been an important supplementary livelihood activity for small and marginal farming households. Women play a significant role in the management of goats, including feeding, cleaning, health care and day-to-day husbandry. However, traditional goat housing practices often exposed the animals to damp floors, poor ventilation, unhygienic conditions and disease risks, particularly during the monsoon season.

Recognising the potential of goat rearing as a source of regular income for rural women, Seven Sisters Development Assistance (SeSTA), Bongaigaon arranged Community Investment Fund (CIF) micro-loans of amount Rs.12000.00 as working capital to 120 numbers of women’s of Cluster Level Federations (CLFs)  under Assam State Rural Livelihoods Mission (ASRLM).

SESTA Bongaigaon, in collaboration with Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Bongaigaon, organized a capacity-building training programme on scientific goat farming for women members of the Community Livelihood Federation (CLF) during the year 2026. The initiative was undertaken to strengthen the knowledge and skills of women farmers and promote goat rearing as a sustainable livelihood activity. The participants were provided with practical knowledge on improving productivity and reducing mortality through improved management practices.