Proposed Strategies and Suggestions for Mitigating Challenges Faced by the Sheep Farmers in Hyper Arid Partially Irrigated Western Plain Zone (Ic) of Rajasthan, India

The research investigation was conducted in the hyper-arid partially irrigated Western Plain Zone (Ic) of Rajasthan, encompassing the districts of Jaisalmer, Bikaner and certain parts of Churu. Based on the highest concentration of sheep population, Jaisalmer and Bikaner districts were purposively selected for this research study. Within each district, three tehsils with the highest sheep population were identified, resulting in a total of six tehsils selected for the research. From each district, 150 sheep farmers were selected, employing a proportional random sampling technique wherein ten sheep farmers from each village were included as respondents. In pursuit of this objective, 20 experts from the functionaries engaged in sheep and wool development i.e. CSWRI, Arid region campus, Bikaner (15) and College of Veterinary and Animal Science, Bikaner (5), from the research disciplines like breeding, nutrition, wool technology, meat science and animal health. Besides these 30 experts from extension i.e. CSWRI, ARC, Bikaner Extension section (15) and state animal husbandry department’s veterinary extension officers (15). Thus, in all 50 experts were selected to seek their valuable suggestions about improved sheep management practices. An effort was made to develop a strategic plan to improve sheep management practices based on suggestions from sheep farmers, extension functionaries and research scientists involved in development and production of improved sheep management practices. This strategy aims to enhance the overall sheep farming scenario in the state and will assist research scientists, extension functionaries and farmers in promoting better management practices. To ensure an effective approach, the strategies should be implemented in a coordinated manner across three different levels: sheep and wool research and development departments, input agencies (including financial institutions) and the farmers themselves.