Indian Navy SSR Mock Test in English
Question - 1
Direction (Q.No. 1-5) : Read the following passage carefully and answer these questions.
In many ways goat-rearing is most suitable for small, poor farmers and can help promote equity. This activity is labour intensive and is more economic using free household labour on small farms than hired labour on large farms. Goats need less capital investment and nutrient per head than cattle, and are, therefore, better suited to small holdings. They need smaller pens than cows and can be handled more easily by women and children. Unlike cattle, goats can mature, conceive and lactate within one year. Thus their gestation period of both milk and meat is very short, an important consideration for small farmers with limited financial staying power. Goats usually give birth to twins or even quardruplets, so that their rate of multiplication is faster than that of cattle. This helps offset the ravages of infant animal mortality. It is feasible for many farmers to plant a short cycle fodder crop in addition to the normal grain rotation. This will not only provide high quality green fodder for goats but also improve soil quality, as fodder crops are nitrogen fixers.
Question: 1 - Why are the goats better suited for small farmers?