Role Performance in Sheep Farming Activities in Western Rajasthan: A Gender Perspective

The present study was conducted to study the role performance in sheep farming activities in Rajasthan. The data were collected personally from 240 sheep owning farm families with the help of structured interview schedule developed for the study. In sheep farming, independent participation of women was noticed in the practices of colostrums feeding, grazing of animals, collection and disposal of pellets, feeding, watering, care of pregnant animals, care at lambing time, providing special feed to lambs and clearing of pens. Joint participation with the spouse, however was found in the activities like cleaning and grooming of animals, chaffing of fodder, care of young one immediately after birth, providing medicine and deworming of animals. Males were more involved in health care, decision making and marketing related activities. It was concluded that sheep keeping was an integrated part of livelihood of rural families. Rural women were the active workers in most of the indoor activities of sheep farming whereas male were engaged more in outdoor activities. Both men and women were managing the activities of sheep farming. Thus they may be encouraged to take sheep farming as entrepreneurial activity for better earning and sustainable livelihood.