The following points highlight the ten main constraints in sheep production in India. The constraints are: 1. Wool Price 2. Poor Management 3. Grazing Problems 4. Trade 5. International Restrictions 6. Capital 7. Nomadic Production System 8. Risk as Constraint 9. Skilled Labour 10. Poor Administration.
Constraint # 1. Wool Price:
Though India is famous for quality wool fabric production, the prices of indigenous raw wool paid to the shepherds are ridiculously low. There are many reasons for this, of which predominance of middlemen in wool trade seems to be the real cause of poor income and constraints in sheep production.
Constraint # 2. Poor Management:
The biological potential of sheep is higher than cattle. Still sheep producers are not able to make the best use of sheep’s potential. The low production rate of sheep is because of poor flock management which makes low return of investment.
Constraint # 3. Grazing Problems:
Regions with large sheep population have differences in grazing land and available feed during rainy and dry season. During the drought, farmers are often forced to reduce the number of sheep by forced sale even at a low price. This can be prevented by introducing some alternative feed supplements during the drought at moderate price.
Constraint # 4. Trade:
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India exports sheep meat mainly to Arabian countries. The international mutton price is subjected to erratic changes which drastically affect the sheep trade.
Constraint # 5. International Restrictions:
Import and export policies on sheep product also limit the meat supply by several factors and thereby influence the sheep production in India.
Few of such factors are as follows:
(a) Health and sanitation restriction,
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(b) Anticipated increases in domestic demand,
(c) Influence of international market price,
(d) Seasonal fluctuations in supply create problems in shipping and Coordination with trading countries, and
(e) Lack of international grading and packing system.
Constraint # 6. Capital:
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Capital investment is a must for making desired improvement in sheep production. In India, mostly landless and poor people are involved in sheep rearing who hardly can get the required financial support.
Constraint # 7. Nomadic Production System:
The nomadic nature of sheep flocks in India also limits sheep production. Sheep owners being poor, ignorant and wandering cannot afford to get sufficient training and income for improving productivity of the sheep flock.
Constraint # 8. Risk as Constraint:
Sheep are living in harsh environment conditions. Adverse weather conditions, diseases, etc. can cause death or forced selling of sheep at cheaper rates.
Constraint # 9. Skilled Labour:
Recent advances in sheep rearing like synchronisation of estrus with breeding season, increasing ovulation for twins and triplets production, production of lambing from off-season breeding, etc. require highly skilled labour for feeding, breeding, housing, fattening of lambs and disease control along with more sophisticated management skills. The ordinary shepherd cannot access such advanced management.
Constraint # 10. Poor Administration:
Poor administration in forest range pastures, common panchayat land or canal and roadside pasture, harassments and illegal hindrances, etc. discourage sheep owners. They are compelled indirectly to abandon their sheep flocks and often forced to pay much more than official requirements for grazing in common pasture lands.