Constraints perceived by sheep and goat farmers under extensive rearing system in Telangana state

The study aimed to identify and analyze the constraints faced by sheep and goat farmers under extensive rearing systems across six districts of Telangana, representing diverse agro-climatic zones. A total of 240 farmers (120 goat and 120 sheep farmers) were selected from 24 mandals using a stratified random sampling technique, with data collected through a pre-tested structured questionnaire. The findings revealed that feeding-related issues were the most pressing, with lack of grazing land (96.66%) and feed availability (72.91%) being the major concerns. Health care constraints included inadequate veterinary services (57.08%) and disease incidence (35.41%), highlighting the need for better veterinary infrastructure and awareness. Marketing inefficiencies, particularly the role of middlemen (76.66%), along with inadequate access to market information and transportation, further limited farmers’ income. General constraints such as limited government subsidies (62.50%) and lack of credit access (53.75%) hindered operational improvements and scalability. The study concludes that addressing these multifaceted challenges requires an integrated strategy encompassing fodder development, mobile veterinary services, market reforms, and enhanced financial support mechanisms to improve the sustainability and profitability of small ruminant farming.