[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]UTTARAKHAND ANGORA WOOL DEVELOPMENT PROJECT
(A Pilot Project on Production & Processing of Angora Wool for Income & Employment Generation in Tehri Garhwal of Uttarakhand)
BACKGROUND OF THE PROJECT
Angora rabbit breeding and rearing has emerged as an important income generating enterprise in the hilly regions of India in the last 30 years. This livestock system has been viewed to provide a sustainable source of income under small or zero agriculture land holding. The agro-climatic conditions of the hilly regions between 4500 to 7000 feet above sea level in Uttarakhand are viewed as the potential areas for such an enterprise. Keeping in the view the importance of angora wool fibre and its potential for income and employment generation, there is need to increase production and productivity of the angora wool by making angora rabbit breeding and rearing a popular occupation. High profitability, vast potential of income and employment generation, huge potential for earning foreign exchange and role of angora rabbit husbandry in ecological rehabilitation are few of the many positive factors, which call for coordinated efforts, so that the farmers take up angora rabbit breeding and rearing in a big way. The woman and educated unemployed youths can take up this profession and traditional farmers can supplement their income through this profession.
Rearing of angora rabbits needs less space, time and money and any family member with minimum experience and training can manage it. Angora rabbits have a fast multiplication rate, which increases approximate 10-12 times annually. The climatic conditions of the hilly regions of Uttarakhand are found suitable for angora rabbit breeding and rearing.
OBJECTIVES OF THE PROJECT
• To open up a germplasm resource centre to develop high yielding angora rabbits that would make available quality breeding stock for the beginners as well as replacement of males to the existing rabbit units for upgrading their flocks.
• To develop improved package in the field of breeding, feeding, management, disease control and treatment to ensure proper and regular health care and availability of quality feed to the angora rabbit breeders.
• To provide facilities for on-farm testing of various technologies developed by Agriculture Universities, Research Institutions, Government Departments and Non-Governmental Organizations in the field of angora rabbit production and wool processing.
• To provide basic training in angora rabbit breeding, rearing and wool processing for women and educated unemployed youths who can take up this profession and traditional farmers can supplement their income.
• To provide necessary inputs and guidance for development of new farms as well as to extend this facility to the existing operational units and to strengthen extension, monitoring and consultancy services to the existing and the up-coming new units.
• To extend marketing support to producers through auctions, exhibitions, emporiums, co-operatives, federations, etc. in the National and International markets.
• To encourage women and rural unemployed youths in this fast development income generating enterprise and to revive the tradition of household spinning and processing of this costly fibre as being done by the rural households since long.
COMPONENTS OF THE PROJECT
• Establishment of high yielding angora rabbit germplasm resource centre.
• Research & Development in the field of health care and nutrition.
• Training and technical support to angora rabbit breeders, self- help groups (SHGs), extension workers and NGOs.
• Establishment of feed manufacturing unit for concentrate and quality feed production for angora rabbits.
• Extension and distribution of angora rabbit units to farmer’s households.
• Establishment of common facility centre for carding, blending, spinning, weaving, knitting and processing of raw angora wool in to yarn and hand-made finished products.
• Design development, product development and product diversification.
• Technological upgradation in traditional machineries and equipment.
• Research & development in vegetable and natural dyes.
• Production and marketing programme for raw angora wool, angora wool blended yarn and hand-made angora woolen products.
TARGET AREA AND TARGET GROUPS OF THE PROJECT
District Tehri Garhwal has been proposed to be the project area of the project. Under the project, only the families living under Below Poverty Line (BPL) are selected and benefited by engaging them is various activities of the project such as rabbit rearing, spinning, weaving, knitting, production of garment, carding, blending, washing, dyeing, finishing, design development, natural dyeing, marketing etc.
FUNDING AGENCY
The project is funded by Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD), Government of India, New Delhi and Department of Rural Development (DoRD), Government of Uttarakhand, Dehradun under SGSY Special Project component.
COST OF THE PROJECT
The project was sanctioned by the Ministry during the year 2002. Total cost of the project sanctioned by the Ministry for five years was Rs. 9.54 Crores, out of which Rs. 4,25,25,000.00 was provide by the Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India and Rs. 1,41,75,000.00 was contributed by the Department of Rural Development, Government of Uttarakhand. Rest of the funds are contributed by the beneficiaries and arranged as credit from the Financial Institutions.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_gallery type=”image_grid” images=”663,662,661,660,659,658,657,656,655,654,653,652,651,650″ img_size=”medium”][/vc_column][/vc_row]