Transformation Roadmap for Unorganized Sheep Husbandry Sector with Reference to Jammu and Kashmir

Abstract

The present arrangement of the sheep husbandry sector in Jammu and Kashmir remains traditional to the core. An appropriate description of the scenario would be that institutional support for entrepreneurship, technology intervention, skill development, structural intervention and the role of communities in effecting self-induced change through learning and innovation are yet to find attention in the economic perspective. Moreover, lack of a socio-economic approach coupled with the absence of a market-oriented model of operation that bridges the gap between the indigenous demand for mutton and global demand for other products i.e wool, skin and manure has, eventually, led the sector unable to grow and bring benefits to the stake holders in the supply-chain. There are exemplary instances of success on organizations of sheep farming, from around the world that are flourishing and creating opportunities for livelihood and overall improvement scenario in the rural economy. We have various examples of related fields like animal husbandry, poultry, dairying and many cottage industries, as well from across India that have proven how far and deep an impact can be created when issues are addressed in the right manner with the right vision. Such models of organization leveraged by schemes of micro-finance have proved to be a viable mechanism in agri-innovation and poverty alleviation to a great extent in the real world. newline