Role of Livestock Rearing in Supporting the Livelihoods in Challenging Mountainous Terrain of Kargil Region, Ladakh
Manish Meshram *
Central Institute of Agriculture Engineering, Nabibag, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India.
HM Khan
Division of Livestock Production Management, SKUAST-Kashmir, Shuhama, Alusteng, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India.
M Abdullah
Mountain Research Centre of Sheep and Goat, SKUAST-Kashmir, Shuhama, Alusteng, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India.
Rameshwar Patile
RVS Collage of Agriculture and Research Station, Bemetara Indra Gandhi KrishiVishwavidyalaya, Raipur, Chhattisgarh, India.
Qazi Shehriyar Sahib
Animal Husbandry Department, Kishtwar, Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir 182204, India.
Garima Singh
Teaching Associate, Animal Science and Fisheries AKS University Sherganj Satna, Madhya Pradesh 4850001, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The survey was conducted to study the socio-economic profile of Sheep rearers in 4 villages (Manzee, Karkichu, Gramthang, and Kannour) of kargil Sub-Division in Kargil district. A total of 80 respondents were interviewed through a pre-structured questionnaire. Results revealed that the majority of respondents had (68.75%) Elementary type families. About (68.75%) families were small sized (Less than 6 members). About (32.50%) respondents were having family business/daily labour as primary occupation, whereas (30.00%) respondents were having agriculture as secondary occupation. The land holdings of respondents were marginal type (4.6±0.12kanals/0.57 acre). Monthly income of 61.25% of respondents was in the range of Rs.11,000-20,000 with an average of Rs.14852±369.85. About 50.00% of sheep rearers were having age in the range of 21-40 years, with illiteracy rate of 28.75%. About (28.75%) of respondents had 5-10 years of Sheep rearing experiences. A very good number of (91.25%) of women were involved in different sheep rearing activities. The respondents have had an average flock strength of sheep (11.10±0.10). The Other animals reared by respondents along with sheep were Goats with a range of 1-5 goats (3.12 ± 0.27 numbers) in (66.25%) cases. Number of Cattle per household were (2.03±0.27) with 0-2 cattle in (81.25%) cases. Thus, it can be concluded that government policies need to be reoriented with focus on commercial livestock farming for employment, nutritional and livelihood security of the residents of the Kargil region.
Keywords: Socio-economic, agriculture, sheep, sheep rearers, Kargil region