ERWIN FONSECA
ASSAGAO: “No one is born great, but it is small people who do small things in a great way, think great, and become great. Great thoughts translated into great actions make a person great.”
These are the words that 21-year-old Sagar Jankar from Torxem village in Pernem lives by. While many youths today choose the comfort of conventional jobs, Sagar has chosen a path rarely walked — that of a full-time goatherd and entrepreneur. For him, life is about thinking out of the box and creating a model others might follow.
Coming from a humble background and a village on the Goa-Maharashtra border, Sagar’s journey began not with a business plan, but with a gift from his grandfather — a single goat.
“I was still in school when my grandfather gave me a small goat and told me to look after it,” says Sagar. “At first, I treated it like a pet, like you would a dog. I’d take it for walks and developed an instant bond with it. At the time, I wasn’t even thinking about making a career out of it. I just wanted to finish school.”
And he did. Sagar completed his SSC and went on to pursue an ITI course to become an electrician. But his heart lay elsewhere. “As soon as I finished my education, I told myself — this is my future.”
Today, Sagar owns and cares for a thriving herd of around 70 goats — 20 adults and 50 young ones. “To anyone else, they may just be goats. But to me, they’re family,” he says. “I am the head of this family, and I take full responsibility for their wellbeing.”
Sagar leads a quiet, self-sufficient life. With no interest in government jobs or white-collar work, he avoids political patronage and paperwork. “I don’t have time for that. My goats are my priority,” he says.
Each day, rain or shine, Sagar can be seen taking his herd to graze in open fields around Pernem — an area still relatively untouched by rampant construction. He is well-known in the area, with the large size of his herd making his presence unmistakable.
Despite being just 21, Sagar already practises a form of grassroots philanthropy. “Goat’s milk is highly medicinal and very rare. I give it free to people who need it. Most of them are unwell. I don’t want money from them — I want their blessings.” Sagar currently gets around five litres of milk a day, all of which he distributes to the needy. His income mainly comes from the sale of goats and their dung, which is a valuable organic fertiliser.
“From just one goat ten years ago, I’ve created an empire,” he says with pride. “I’m determined to succeed in goat-rearing.”
He cautions that the profession isn’t as simple as it seems. “You need an initial investment — say, about Rs 1 lakh — and with the right planning, you could earn up to Rs 9 lakh every year or every alternate year.”
“But you must have at least 50 goats if you want to sell regularly. I sell only about ten goats every two or three years, depending on the herd’s size. That way, I don’t feel the loss, because the younger ones grow up in the meantime.”
Sagar has sold around 30 goats since he fully immersed himself in the profession. While many of his peers see such work as menial, he believes it is a high-paying, rewarding job — emotionally and financially.
“There’s also a bond you form with the animals. When I call out, all the goats gather around me — no matter where they are.” He adds, “Nothing comes easy. Hard work is always there. But so are the rewards. I’m very particular about their feed. I only let them graze on clean grass. That’s what keeps them healthy, and that’s what fetches a better price.”
Looking ahead, Sagar dreams big. “I want to be a role model for others. I want to be known not just for my goats, but for the way I run this business. Reputation matters.”