Strategy of Goat Farming Improvement in Upland Watersheds

Abstract

Goat fanning technologies improvement was studied in Gunungsari village, Boyolali district (Serang Sub Watershed). Study includes tlle following steps l.e.(l) Rapid rural appraisal (RRA) as location identification to explore information about farmer perception, requirement, and problems faced in livestock farming, (2) technology designing according with farmer's circumatanees, (3) suitable teeluiology implementation. Progressive farmer who was responsive for changing was chosen .in the first steps. In general, technology improvement strategy used grouping and active farmer's participative method. Results showed that livestock farming
contribute 22,7% of total income with very iow labor productivity (Rp 9.00 / man-hour). Main problems faced by farmer in ruminant farming were limitation of fodder (especially in dry season), desease and capital limited. To overcome those problems, high grass variatics were introduced as initial steps Afier 22 months grasses spread rapidly to out of village. After that 20 fanncrs take part in goats sharing system. During 3.5 years, goats population in sharing system increase around 600% (initial population was 40 heads). Stabilized goats farming in groups, grass village nurseries and coop were introduced. But even though goats population increase rapidly, goats farming scale per households wasn't change significantly. Goats‘ orientation was for invcstation and as midle effort to be able to buy cattle. Goat were also liquid asets for farmers to get cash money when needed. To increase livestock contribution and decrease food crops dcpendenecd,
higher contribution of private sector in input and capital wcrcs needed, since livestock is strong relation with land conservation in upland.