Socio-personal profile of the small ruminant farmers of Jammu and Kashmir

To study the socio-personal and socio-economic profile of the small ruminant farmers of the Jammu and Kashmir state, a study with exploratory research design was conducted in the Jammu division and Kashmir division of the Jammu and Kashmir state. Apre-tested interview schedule was developed and data were collected through personal interview technique by employing multistage sampling procedure, from the selected 240 respondents belonging to Kathua, Rajouri, Anantnag and Baramulla districts of the state. The overall average age of the small ruminant farmers of the state was about 46 years with an overall experience of about 17 years, regarding sheep and goat production and management. Majority of the respondents (68.30%), were illiterate with a migratory lifestyle (97.90%). The overall family size was 8 members and majority of the small ruminant farmers (46.20%) were having a medium size family of 7 to 11 members. The overall flock size as maintained was around 115 animals, of which 86 was average sheep flock size and 29 was average goat herd size with an average total income of about 3.74 lakh, from all sources, of which sheep and goat husbandry was a major contributor. Overall picture projected that the small ruminant farmers of the state to be either landless (45.80%) or with marginal land holdings (45.0%). Majority of the respondents from Jammu division (81.70%) belonged to scheduled tribe category, whereas the majority of respondents from Kashmir division (71.70%) were from unreserved or general social category. The respondents had a low level of social participation, extension contact and mass media exposure, however moderate risk taking capability and high economic motivation was found among the small ruminant farmers.