महाराष्ट्रातील शेप आणि गौचर विभागाचे राज्य

• The livestock sector plays an important role in the state’s economy; about 70% of population thrives on agriculture. Animal Husbandry is an inseparable component of agriculture sector.
  Livestock rearing is central to rural livelihoods in a large part of the globe. In India according to Government reports, in the year 2008, the sector contributed about 5.3% of the total GDP and provided food, fibre, energy and medicine essential for human survival.
  Sheep and goat rearing is the traditional occupation of economically weaker sections of society, particularly in rain shadow areas. These two species have been a major source of economic sustenance and financial cushioning, especially for an economically weaker section of society.
  Nearly 40% of our population belongs to economically poor and therefore programmes involving the development of these small ruminants will directly benefit this population. Comparatively smaller body size and their adaptability to a wide range of agroclimatic conditions have rendered them suitable for weaker sections.
  Sheep and goats are mainly reared under extensive range management system on community rangeland, crop residues and forestlands employing self or family labour. Management of small ruminants does not require special skills. The family labour is gainfully employed. Financial inputs are much less as compared to other livestock sectors. The market demand for sheep and goat and their products is available throughout the year and there is negligible variation in prices obtained.
  The National Commission on Nutrition stated that the balanced human diet should comprise 11 kg of meat/annum. However, the current availability in Maharashtra state is only 2.26 kg/annum (from all Species). Due to increasing human population, the average meat availability is not likely to exceed. Therefore a rapid increase in meat production is necessary to meet the ever-increasing demand.
  Nutritional Advisory Committee of Indian Institute of Medical Research recommended every Indian should get 280 gms. of milk per day per capita, but a statistical report of GOI for the period –2006 availability 245 gms. per capita per day.
  Maharashtra ranks third in Meat production & eighth in wool production amongst all states of India (Source: Basic Animal Husbandry Statistics, 2006).

1.1. Sheep & Goat Population:

• As per livestock census of 2008, there are 32.57 lakhs of sheep & 109.81 lakh Goats are reared in the State.
• Table-1 Division wise Sheep & Goats

As per livestock census of year 2003, on National level Maharashtra ranks 6th in Sheep population & 4th in Goat population.

1.2. Sheep and goat rearing

Approximately 1 lakh families are depending upon sheep-rearing business. Sheep rearing is done in dry climatic districts such as Pune, Satara, Solapur, Sangli, Kolhapur, Ahmednagar, Nasik, Dhule, Jalgaon, Aurangabad, Jalna, Beed, Latur, Nanded., Osmanabad, Buldhana, Chandrapur, etc. On goat rearing, approximately 48 lakh families are engaged. Both the business is carried out by weaker sections of the society.

1.3. Meat Production
Goats \ Sheep constitute a very important species of livestock in India, mainly on account of their short generation intervals, higher rates of prolificacy, and the ease with which the goats as also their products can be marketed. They are considered to be very important for their contribution to the development of rural zones and people. The local initiatives to promote quality labels and innovative products for cheeses, meat and fibres could help goats in keeping a role for sustainable development in an eco-friendly environment all over the world. However, the future of the goat and sheep industry as a significant economic activity will also be very dependent on the standards of living in the countries where there is a market for the goat products.
As per Statistical Report of Dept. of Animal Husbandry, Maharashtra State for the year 2008 – 2009, Sheep and goat meat production is about 34.52 % of total meat production in the state of which 11.34 % is formed sheep and 23.18 % is from goats. Estimated average meat production per sheep and goat is 11 kg.


Table-2 Estimated meat production from all species of animal in Maharashtra
2008-09

(Source: Integrated Survey Scheme Report on Milk, Egg, Wool & Meat Production in Maharashtra State for the year 2008-09)

Table-3 Number of Registered Slaughterhouses in the State

(Source: Integrated Survey Scheme Report on Milk, Egg, Wool & Meat Production in Maharashtra State for the year 2008-09)

1.4. EXPORT OF MEAT

Major Export Destinations (2007-08): Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Germany, Oman.
Table-4 Three-Year Export Statement: Sheep & Goat Meat (Source: APEDA)

1.6 Goat Milk Production
It is observed that goat milk production for the state was estimated during 2008-09 was 277.248 thousand M.T. during the year. The average milk yield per goat in-milk per day was about 219gms.Contribution of Goat Milk in total milk production is approximately 4 per cent

1.8 LIVESTOCK MARKETS
Livestock markets are governed by the Agriculture Market Committees, important livestock markets in the State are as under,

1.9 MIGRATORY ASPECTS

In Maharashtra sheep & goat rearing occupation is done mainly by Dhangar community. The average size of each sheep flock is 25 to 30 Nos. The Dhangar remain in their village from June to October of every year. During this period they depend on rain-fed crops like Bajara, Jawar, Maize, Sunflower etc. on scanty rainfall. The grass cover available on grazing land and on roadsides, riverbeds suffice up to September end and most of the ewes are conceived during this period. After harvesting the Kharif crops, the shaperds start migrating from Pune, Satara, Sangli districts towards Kokan area where sufficient grazing and water is available as also Kharif crop residues. Sheep flocks from Solapur districts migrate towards Marathwada Region in search of fodder and water. Flocks from Aurangabad, Jalana migrate towards forest areas of Dhule and Jalgaon districts. This migration continues up to the May end, after which flocks return to their native villages.

2.0 WOOL PRODUCTION
A. Shearing of Wool:
The Sheep of the state grow a coarse type of wool on their bodies. The sheep are shorn twice during a year. The first shearing is done during June & July. The second shearing is done afte six months, of the first shearing.

B. Wool production:
Average wool production is 587 gms. The estimated wool production for the state during 2006-2007 was about 1667 M.T.

C. Utilization:
The wool is short staple & rough. Wool is generally used locally for production of Ghongadies (Kamblies) & Jen (Namdas), Barrack Blankets, which are required for military-paramilitary forces. Approximately 20% wool is used locally & 80% wool is purchased by the mill owners of northern states such as Haryana, Punjab for production of barrack blankets.

Amongst all these markets Lonand, Phaltan is important & well-organized markets. These are under the control of Agricultural Produce Marketing Committee. And Wool Marketing through auction sale takes place at these places during wool shearing seasons. In the State at a Lonand market maximum quantity of wool is auctioned annually. At other marketplaces mentioned above wool, marketing takes place during weekly bazaar days. The wool from Mahmud, Sangola of Solapur district and Parali & Dharur area of Beed district fetches more price as a quality of wool from these areas is superior to that produced in other regions of the State.

As per the information obtained from Ahmednagar Goat Coop. Federation, there are at present about 2250 Sheep & Goat breeders Coop. Societies in the State the details of which are as follows:

1.Western Maharashtra: 450
2.Marathwada: 380
3.Vidarbha: 170
4.Konkan: 25
5.Khandesh: 1200
Total: 2225
Most of the societies are not functioning at all & are defunct or dormant. However, their cooperative societies can be made to play a significant role in helping the producers through procurement of their products & supply the produce to users like slaughterhouses, woollen mills etc. They can also be made to supply breedable stock to other breeders.
In order to encourage the dormant societies to take up above programmes the societies will have to be provided finance in the form of share capital contribution to assist them to create infrastructure like society office, furniture & machinery, Weighing scale, Office stationary etc. The societies can obtain working capital from the banks for running their activities.

4. NGOS WORKING ON SHEEP & GOATS:

• Nimbkar Agriculture Research Institute (NARI), Phaltan:
• BAIF Development Research Foundation, Uralikanchan, Pune:
• ANTHRA, Bavdhan, Pune:
• BOSCO Gramin Vikas Kendra, kadegaon, Nagar- Pune Marg, Ahmednagar:
• Rural Agriculture Institute, Narayangaon (RAIN):