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Sangath, www.sangath.com, is looking to build a centre for services, training and research and seeks to buy approx 1500 to 2000 sq mtrs land betweeen Mapusa and Bambolim and surrounding rural areas. Please contact: [email protected] or [email protected] or ph+91-9881499458 http://lists.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet-goanet.org/2009-July/180028.html ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Dhangar: Traditional Shepherd Community of Goa By Ashokkumar Desai 01 August 2009 According to sources at the Canacona Mamlatdar office most families of the Dhangar community from Dabel, Canacona fully depend on goats for their livelihood. It is the women who take care of the goats mostly. As per the Canacona Block Development Office (BDO) sources number of traditional goat caring families are: Dabel (12), Fullamoll (8), Dapot (5), Dulgal in Shellim (5), Sadolxem (8), Vadamoll (4) and Mastimoll (2). There are also some small-time farmers who rear goats for their daily milk requirement. Most of the Dhangar communities in the Canacona taluka live in joint families of more than twelve members However, the Dhangar cum shepherd community of the Canacona taluka have a sad story to relate. They are not getting any financial assistant from the government to purchase goats. The also get no government help to increase their herds, informed the sarpanch of the Cotigao village panchayat, Mr Rajesh Gaonkar. Mr Gaonkar informed said that the Dhangar alias Gavali community, which are very few in number in Cotigao, Gaodongirium and its surrounding areas, are fully dependant on goats and goat produce, though some do cultivate seasonal fruits and vegetables like brinjals, lady fingers and papaya cucumber during the monsoon season. According to one traditional Dhangar, Mr Tullo goats are easier and cheaper to manage than cattle and they have multiple uses. In addition, goat milk can replace sheep milk or cow milk in diets of those who are allergic to other milk. Deforestation and non-availability of grass has slowed down their business over the last ten years. Prolific breeders goats achieve sexual maturity by the 10th to 12th month. They have a short gestation period and by 16-17 months they start producing milk. According to veterinarians goat milk is naturally homogenous, which means the cream remains suspended in the milk instead of rising to the top as with cow milk. Goats can efficiently survive on available shrubs and trees in adverse conditions and in low fertility lands informed another shepherd Mr Janu from Mastimoll. NABARD is an apex institution for all matters relating to policy, planning and operation in the field of agricultural credit. It serves as a refinancing agency for the institutions providing investment and production credit for agriculture and rural development. It promotes development through a well organised Technical Services Department at the head office and Technical Cell at each of the Regional Offices, but it is not well implemented in Goa properly especially in the Canacona taluka said Mr Jovi Feranandes, sarpanch of the Agonda village panchayat. The concerned authorities should to look into the problems of the Canacona Dhangar community. Most still live below the poverty line. http://www.navhindtimes.in/buzz/1521-dhangar-traditional-shepherd-community-of-goa
