Wool, Weather and Welfare: Climate Challenges and Livelihood Resilience in Sheep Farming of Uttarakhand

Sheep farming has long been an integral livelihood activity in the Uttarakhand Himalayas, providing meat, wool, and income to smallholder and pastoral households. However, this traditional enterprise is increasingly threatened by climate variability and environmental stressors. Erratic rainfall, reduced snowfall, shrinking grazing pastures, and frequent natural disasters have disrupted transhumant practices and intensified feed scarcity. Heat stress, disease outbreaks, and increased livestock mortality further undermine household economies. These vulnerabilities translate into declining productivity, reduced wool quality, and rising migration from mountain villages. Despite these challenges, sheep-rearing communities in Uttarakhand display diverse resilience strategies. Traditional coping mechanisms such as seasonal migration, fodder preservation and breed selection remain central. Recent policy initiatives, cooperative wool societies, and genetic improvement programs also provide support. Climate-smart livestock practices, including improved housing, feed diversification and early-warning systems, have been recommended to strengthen adaptive capacity. The evidence suggests that resilience in sheep farming requires integrating indigenous knowledge with institutional interventions. Strengthening this synergy can safeguard pastoral livelihoods, enhance rural welfare, and contribute to broader Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) related to poverty reduction, food security, and climate action. Uttarakhand thus represents a critical case for studying the intersection of livestock systems, climate risks, and sustainable mountain development.