Himachal Pradesh will cover 60% of your goat farm’s cost: here’s who qualifies

Farmers in Himachal Pradesh looking for a new source of income now have a state-backed route into goat rearing, with the government picking up 60% of the bill. The Krishak Bakri Palan Yojna, run by the state’s Department of Animal Husbandry, offers subsidised goat units to residents from economically weaker sections, aiming to turn a traditionally informal rural occupation into a more structured source of household income.

Eligibility is broad by design. The scheme is open to farmers across general, SC, ST, BPL, women and landless categories in Himachal Pradesh, though every applicant must first complete training or awareness sessions in goat husbandry, delivered by the concerned Senior Veterinary Officer, before a unit is approved. Within that pool, preference goes to unemployed applicants from SC, ST, women and general categories, with a built-in target that at least 30% of beneficiaries be women. Families with no member in a government job, applicants earning under 2 lakh rupees annually, and those who have already built a goat shed, on their own or through MGNREGA, also get priority.

The subsidy covers three unit sizes: 11 goats (10 females, 1 male), 5 goats (4 females, 1 male), or 3 goats (2 females, 1 male), drawn from Beetal, Sirohi, Jamanapari or White Himalayan breeds. Officials say the scheme targets two goals at once: giving small and marginal farmers, many of them nomadic herders or landless labourers, a steadier income stream, while also increasing the state’s meat production.

Applying happens entirely online through the Department of Animal Husbandry’s website. After reviewing the detailed guidelines and confirming they meet the eligibility criteria, applicants tick a box agreeing to the terms and conditions and select ‘Apply Now,’ which opens the registration form. From there, the form must be filled out completely and submitted along with the required documents: a bank passbook, income certificate, unemployment certificate, BPL certificate (where applicable), training certificate, and caste certificate for SC or ST applicants.

The scheme does not carry a listed application deadline on the myScheme portal, so interested farmers should check the Department of Animal Husbandry’s official site directly for the current application window. It is implemented statewide across Himachal Pradesh, meaning residents in any district can apply once they clear the mandatory training requirement.

The Krishak Bakri Palan Yojna is administered by the Department of Animal Husbandry, Government of Himachal Pradesh. Source: myscheme.gov.in

Wikimedia Commons/by Vraj Acharya, WELL Labs