THE SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION OF PROPORTION AND DENSITY OF GOAT IN SATARA DISTRICT

Abstract

Livestock rearing is an important component of rural livelihoods in India and among all species, goats play a significant role due to their adaptability, low maintenance cost and suitability in droughtprone areas. In Satara district, located in the western part of Maharashtra, the geographical and climatic diversity ranging from the high rainfall Sahyadri ranges to the semiarid eastern plateau has led to an uneven distribution of livestock. Therefore, understanding the spatial distribution of goat numbers is important for assessing regional disparities and planning sustainable livestock development. The research study which examines the regional differences, changes over time and underlying factors affecting goat rearing between 1992 and 2012. Using both primary field surveys and secondary data (19922012) from the Livestock Census of Satara district, this research uses statistical techniques such as growth rate, goat density per 100 hectares of arable land, mean and standard deviation to highlight tehsillevel disparities.The findings show that although the total goat population in the district has increased slightly from 23.06 percent in 1992 to 23.57 percent in 2012, the density per 100 hectares of cultivable land has declined from 48 units to 38 units. In Phaltan and Maan tehsils, the positive growth was due to the semiarid climate, low irrigation development and the reliance of small farmers on goat rearing as a subsidiary occupation. In contrast, negative changes were observed in Mahabaleshwar, Khandala, Satara and Karad tehsils where the importance of goat rearing decreased due to irrigation expansion, fertile soil and intensive farming. Although the number of sheep has decreased, goats have maintained their economic importance due to the strong urban demand for meat and their suitability for marginal environments.