Livestock-based livelihoods such as goat rearing, sheep farming, backyard poultry and piggery are vital income sources for small and marginal farmers in rural India. While access to credit has improved through banks, SHGs, JLGs and MFIs, loan repayment structures have largely remained rigid. The widespread practice of fixed monthly EMIs often clashes with the seasonal and irregular income patterns of livestock enterprises, creating repayment stress for farmers and increasing

India’s goat sector is at an interesting crossroads. Goats are no longer just a household asset kept for emergency cash needs; they are increasingly becoming an important component of rural enterprise, food systems and women-led livelihoods. India had about 148.88 million goats according to the 20th Livestock Census, with goats accounting for around 27.8% of the country’s livestock population. The goat population increased by 10.14% between 2012 and 2019. Yet, despite this sc