Jammu & Kashmir is having chequered terrain and a cold climate which is ideal for various pastoral engagements. A large chunk of rural people is mostly sheep rearing as it has been passed to them as a cultural gift from ancestors. Livestock rearing and development is considered very a valuable source of income as the two main byproducts, wool and mutton, has good market and are considered an economic boon for agrarian families. Apart from it, now livestock, especially sheep and goat, are developed for large-scale commercial ventures. This sector provides means of livelihood to about 12 lakh families .and has the potential to provide sustainable support to more families in the coming year.
Though more people are doing traditional sheep farming extensively, some common breeds which are reared are Gurazi, Karnahi, Bakerwali, and Poonchi. Apart from them, Merinos, Corriedale breeds, mutton breeds of sheep like Dorper, Texel and other scores of breeds, but the trend is fastly changing as progressive farmers are using modern technology and innovative techniques by intensive sheep breeding to get wholesome dividends.
Jammu & Kashmir is developing only around 35% local meat for total consumption which means more than 65% mutton is imported. It determines the local market and demand for mutton. The national livestock policy aims to increase productivity and production in a sustainable manner while protecting the environment and preserving biodiversity. The government is committed to ensuring bio-security and farmers’ livelihood. In this connection, the socio-economic status of livestock producers is being developed through various programmes. The government has been transforming sheep and goat farming on a large scale to make the jk self-sufficient and also provide jobs to youth through various schemes like the integrated sheep development scheme.
In J&K, commonly progressive sheep ranchers have 100 to 200 sheep in one flock whereas common sheep breeders have 50 to 100 sheep in the flock. In 2021-2022, 594 sheep and goat units were brought up in the valley, as per official data. The department has been actively establishing sheep and goat units providing 25 ewes /does free of cost to eligible persons. This will give a fillip to the animal husbandry sector in the near future.
The concerted efforts of farmers will double their income. Now this sheep farming and rearing in Kashmir has become a lucrative profession for entrepreneurship purposes. Recently, the government of Jammu & Kashmir signed a memorandum of cooperation with New Zealand for overhauling and transforming the sheep husbandry sector through the transfer and exchange of technology, research, etc. The department of sheep husbandry with allied departments is involved in the development of model sheep farms, and good fodder production, and value addition of wool and mutton and other components of sheep development on priority. This will cut the import of mutton demand through large-scale domestic production.
The government has announced to set up the self-help groups with the financial support of Rs one lakh to each SHG. Rs 3 lakh will be provided for each self-help group for generators and solar-based shearing machines. The government will construct 1000 sheds for livestock in the tribal community. Now the focus was shifted to high genetic potential breeds of sheep and exotic breeds of sheep. The establishment of big sheep units comprising 100 sheep will get a subsidy by NABARD from 25 to 35% of the total cost of the project. The tribal affairs department and the central wool development board will facilitate the sheep farming families through skill development training, financial support, infrastructure and marketing opportunities. It is high time to explore new potential areas for sheep husbandry so that extensive farming can be promoted at large-scale. The sheep husbandry faces some hiccups; the pastures are restricted and karewas are razed down, and at hillsides, they have less land available for grazing due to encroachment.
The sheep husbandry department and agriculture universities are having robust mechanisms for sustainable sheep production and are sharing expertise with farmers. New prospective people who desire to start sheep husbandry as an economic venture should take training and get expertise from sheep husbandry and know the nitty gritty of farming. In the valley, both intensive and extensive sheep farming is now vague, whereas in intensive sheep farming labor caste and other expenses are much but the yield of production will be good as the sheep get constant care and supervision, the health of the flock is monitored carefully and the veterinary facility remains in constant touch.
As a routine here in extensive sheep farming, the flocks are left to fend for themselves in open pastures, and meadows and get grass and herbage and intensive care is not possible here though now the facilities are improving day by day. Vagaries of climate like torrential rains, snow, cloudbursts, foot rot, pesticides and untimely veterinary facility and other predators are some threats to sheep husbandry impure water can be detrimental for sheep.
If it is done in a planned and proper way with consultations with the department and experts, it is a rich legacy of prophets for better livelihood and sustainability. The beginners should take steps properly and some steps are here for reference:.1) Choose the right place and shelter and experienced labourer 2) Choose the right breed of sheep as per the area of residence and locale climate 3) Start a small flock of sheep 10.20 number manageable.4) Prchase healthy animals from reputed breeders 5) Quarantine new arrivals to your farm for at least 15 days 6) Ensure you have enough fencing to keep your sheep safe and secure, and 7) Have provision of safe water and food supplements for diet.
J&K has the potential to contribute to the sheep industry in the national and global markets. It is an important activity as it can contribute to J&K’s economy and open new avenues of employment and livelihood.

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Dr Imtiyaz Rasool Ganai