Socio-Economic Profile and Livelihood Strategies of Sheep Rearers in High-Altitude Drass, Kargil: Implications for Reorienting Commercial Livestock Farming Policy
Manish Meshram *
Central Institute of Agriculture Engineering, Nabibag, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India.
HM Khan
Division of Livestock Production Management, FVSC&A.H, SKUAST-Kashmir, Shuhama, Alusteng, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India.
Ashaq Manzoor
Department of Animal Husbandry, Jammu and Kashmir Government, India.
M Abdullah
Mountain Research Centre of Sheep and Goat, SKUAST-Kashmir, Shuhama, Alusteng, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India.
AH Akand
Division of VAHE Veterinary Animal Husbandry Extensions, SKUAST-Kashmir, Shuhama, Alusteng, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India.
IU Sheikh
Division of Livestock Production Management, SKUAST-Kashmir, Shuhama, Alusteng, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India.
A Shah
Division of Livestock Production Management, SKUAST-Kashmir, Shuhama, Alusteng, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India.
Qazi Shehriyar Sahib
Department of Animal Husbandry, Jammu and Kashmir Government, India.
Rameshwar
Collage of Agriculture and Research Station, Bemetara, Indra Gandhi KrishiVishwavidyalaya, Raipur, Chhattisgarh, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
A survey was conducted to assess the socio-economic profile of sheep rearers across seven villages (Rambipora, Holiyal, Breas, Pandrass, Bhimbhat, Chokiyal, and Throungs) in the Drass region of Kargil district. In total, 140 respondents were interviewed using a pre-structured questionnaire. The majority of respondents (70%) belonged to joint families, with 70% of these families comprising fewer than six members. The primary occupation for 29.28% of respondents was family business, while agriculture served as the secondary occupation for 26.42%. Respondents held marginally sized land parcels averaging 4.324±0.16 kanals (0.54 acres), with a mean monthly income of Rs. 14949±3200.40. Notably, 61.43% earned between Rs. 11,000 and Rs. 20,000. Most sheep rearers (32.8%) possessed only a middle school education, and 46.42% of family heads were aged 21–40 years. Approximately 26.42% had over 20 years of experience in sheep rearing, and women (92.14%) participated extensively in various sheep-rearing activities. The average sheep flock size was 10.07±0.07 animals, with 56.42% of respondents maintaining 1–5 goats averaging 3.12±0.19 animals. The mean livestock count per household was 2.15±0.40, and 81.71% of households owned 0–2 cattle. Government policies should therefore prioritize commercial livestock production to enhance employment opportunities, nutritional security, and livelihoods for residents of the Drass region.
Keywords: Socioeconomics, sheep rearers, flock size, livestock farming