INTEGRATED ANGORA WOOL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM
ANGORA WOOL DEVELOPMENT PROJECT UNDER INTEGRATED ANGORA WOOL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM IN DASHOLI BLOCK OF DISTRICT CHAMOLI AND CHAMBA AND JAUNPUR BLOCKS OF DISTRICT TEHRI GARHWAL OF UTTARAKHAND
INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND OF THE PROJECT
The hilly regions of Uttarakhand heavily rely on agriculture and animal husbandry, but their productivity is hampered by the challenging terrain and agro-climatic conditions. Traditional sheep rearing faces hurdles like grazing limitations and diminishing pasturelands, necessitating alternative approaches such as angora rabbit farming. This not only fulfils the demand for wool but also elevates clothing quality and contributes to rural economic development. Expanding angora rabbit farming in Uttarakhand’s hilly areas is pivotal for comprehensive economic growth, particularly in regions where agriculture and animal husbandry have historically yielded modest returns. Angora rabbits possess a distinct advantage due to their rapid reproduction rate and short generation interval, making them exceptionally well-suited for swift selection and improvement compared to many other livestock species. The project’s core objective is to enhance wool production within angora rabbit units through scientific advancements in breeding, feeding, management, and wool processing. This holistic approach aims to bolster technical expertise, increase input accessibility, and improve marketing facilities, ultimately augmenting the economic returns derived from angora rabbit breeding. Over recent years, angora rabbit breeding has emerged as a significant source of income in hilly regions, providing a sustainable livelihood for individuals with limited agricultural land.
Uttarakhand’s hilly terrain, situated between 4000 to 7000 feet above sea level, offers an ideal setting for this enterprise. The profitability, income generation potential, employment opportunities, foreign exchange earnings, and ecological rehabilitation aspects collectively emphasize the necessity for coordinated efforts to promote angora rabbit breeding. The promotion of angora rabbit breeding and rearing holds the promise of significantly increasing angora wool production. This would not only benefit traditional farmers but also empower women and unemployed youth. Angora rabbit rearing demands minimal space, time, and investment, rendering it accessible to family members with basic training. Moreover, angora rabbits exhibit a rapid reproduction rate, augmenting their population. The climatic conditions prevalent in Uttarakhand’s hilly regions are conducive to successful angora rabbit breeding and rearing. Despite its lucrative potential, the growth of angora rabbit farming faces several challenges, including limited access to high-quality germplasm and insufficient understanding of its economic viability. Constraints related to marketing opportunities, feed availability, and health management further hinder its expansion. These hurdles persist despite commendable efforts by various agencies, resulting in delayed returns for breeders. In response to these challenges, HIFEED has initiated a comprehensive project encompassing various training programs related to angora rabbit breeding and rearing, wool production, processing, spinning, and weaving.
The project aims to empower women, unemployed youth, and traditional farmers by establishing decentralized angora rabbit breeding, spinning, and weaving units. This endeavour is designed to uplift economically marginalized segments within the tribal community. The proposed project encompasses multifaceted strategies, including the establishment of a germplasm resource center, the enhancement of breeding practices, provision of training, extension of rabbit units to households, establishment of a wool processing facility, and the implementation of a production and marketing program for angora wool products. The overarching goal is to foster sustainable growth in angora rabbit breeding, thereby providing a source of income and employment for farmers, women, and unemployed youth in the hilly regions of Uttarakhand. HIFEED’s initiative, the Integrated Angora Rabbit Wool Development Program, is dedicated to enhancing angora wool production, marketing, and sales. This program involves training partner NGOs in angora rabbit breeding and rearing, wool production and processing, spinning, and weaving. Furthermore, the project envisions the establishment of angora rabbit breeding, spinning, and weaving units at the household level in Uttarakhand’s hilly areas, ultimately generating employment opportunities and augmenting family income.
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE PROJECT
1. Develop and widely distribute enhanced breeding and management practices tailored for Angora rabbits, encompassing vital aspects such as feeding, disease control, and treatment, with the overarching goal of amplifying productivity and overall profitability.
2. Elevate disease diagnosis facilities and healthcare provisions for Angora rabbits, focusing on enhancing infrastructure, acquiring advanced equipment, and cultivating expertise to facilitate the efficient management of rabbit health.
3. Empower women, unemployed youth, and traditional farmers by delivering foundational Angora rabbit breeding and rearing training, effectively equipping them to supplement their income streams.
4. Fortify extension and monitoring services, guaranteeing the comprehensive dissemination of information, provision of technical guidance, and ongoing support to Angora rabbit farmers, thereby ensuring their continuous progress.
5. Provide substantial aid to Angora rabbit producers in navigating effective marketing strategies, including avenues such as auctions, exhibitions, and cooperative platforms, thereby enabling access to both national and international markets to unlock enhanced income prospects.
COMPONENTS AND ACTIVITIES OF THE PROJECT
1. Deliver comprehensive training sessions and offer technical support to angora rabbit breeders, self-help groups (SHGs), and extension workers, aimed at enhancing breeding and rearing practices.
2. Set up individual household-level angora rabbit wool production units with the dual objective of generating income for farmers and contributing to the expansion of the angora rabbit wool industry.
3. Bolster research and development (R&D) endeavours focused on health care, disease control, nutrition, and feed formulation for angora rabbits, prioritizing their well-being and optimizing wool quality.
4. Introduce scientific methodologies in breeding, rearing, and record management for angora rabbits, cultivating sustainable and responsible breeding practices.
5. Enact innovative techniques in angora rabbit breeding, feeding, disease control, and overall management, geared towards augmenting productivity levels and elevating product quality.
6. Engineer cost-effective housing solutions and cage-making techniques utilizing bamboo and affordable alternatives, alongside upgrading traditional machinery for heightened efficiency and diminished production costs.
7. Establish a robust production and marketing network encompassing raw angora wool, angora wool blended yarn, and finished products, thereby championing the industry’s visibility and growth on both national and international fronts.
TARGET AREA OF THE PROJECT
The project was strategically oriented towards high-altitude areas within Uttarakhand that were well-suited for Angora rabbit farming. Specifically, it encompassed the Dasholi block within the Chamoli district, as well as the Chamba and Jaunpur blocks located within the Tehri Garhwal district.
TARGET GROUPS AND BENEFICIARIES OF THE PROJECT
The project was conceived with the aim of directing its efforts towards socioeconomically disadvantaged families, particularly those belonging to the categories of Below Poverty Line (BPL), Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Other Backward Classes (OBC), as the primary recipients.
FUNDING PARTNER OF THE PROJECT
The funding for the project was provided by the Central Wool Development Board (CWDB), Jodhpur, Rajasthan which operates under the aegis of the Ministry of Textiles, Government of India.
SANCTIONED BUDGET OF THE PROJECT
The CWDB sanctioned the project with the following details:
| Financial Year | Sanction Order/Work Order/Agreement No. | Date of Sanction Order/Work Order/Agreement |
Sanctioned Budget of the Project (Amount in Rs.) |
| 2005-06 | CWDB/Angora/HIFEED/04-05/7923-7928 | 08.03.2006 | 18,42,000.00 |
| 2006-07 | CWDB/HRD/2005-06 | 18.10.2006 | 35,637.00 |
| 2008-09 | CWDB/Angora/HIFEED/08-09/4332 | 25.09.2008 | 10,40,000.00 |
| 2008-09 | CWDB/Angora/Uttarakhand/2007-08/6906 | 27.03.2009 | 34,200.00 |
| 2010-11 | CWDB/HRD/Training/08-09/1298 | 14.07.2010 | 10,160.00 |
| 2010-11 | CWDB/Angora/HIFEED/10-11/1383 | 15.07.2010 | 9,06,000.00 |
| 2010-11 | CWDB/Angora/HIFEED/07-08/2773 | 27.08.2010 | 4,80,000.00 |
| 2010-11 | CWDB/HRD/HIFEED/10-11/3868 | 26.10.2010 | 58,500.00 |
| 2010-11 | CWDB/HRD/HIFEED/10-11/6622 | 08.02.2011 | 24,000.00 |
| 2011-12 | CWDB/Angora/HIFEED/2010-11/1858 | 24.08.2011 | 6,93,000.00 |
| Total | 51,23,497.00 |
OUTCOMES AND ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE PROJECT
The objectives and components of the Integrated Angora Wool Improvement Program have been successfully implemented, and the following outcomes and achievements have been accomplished:
1. To promote efficient and effective angora rabbit production, new and improved practices have been developed for breeding, feeding, disease control, treatment, management, production, and processing, resulting in improved wool quality and productivity.
2. Basic training has been provided for angora rabbit breeding and rearing, targeting women, educated unemployed youth, and traditional farmers to supplement their income.
3. Extension, monitoring, and consultancy services have been strengthened to support both existing and up-and-coming rabbit farming units, providing advice, training, and support to maximize productivity and profitability.
4. Facilities for disease diagnosis have been strengthened, and regular healthcare services have been provided to prevent the spread of diseases that can impact rabbit health.
5. Producers have been assisted in marketing their products through various channels, increasing the visibility and accessibility of rabbit products to potential customers, both domestically and internationally.
6. Training and technical support have been provided for angora rabbit breeders, self-help groups, and extension workers, enhancing knowledge and skills in angora rabbit production, thereby improving product quality and increasing productivity.
7. Angora rabbit wool production units have been established at the household level of farmers, creating a source of income for farmers and promoting the angora rabbit wool industry.
8. Research and Development (R&D) in health care, disease diagnosis, disease control, nutrition, and balanced feed formulation have been strengthened, improving rabbit health and the quality of angora wool.
9. Sustainable breeding practices have been promoted through the introduction of scientific and planned breeding, rearing, and record management in the field of angora rabbit production, enhancing productivity, and improving the overall quality of products.
10. Incorporating economical alternatives like bamboo, innovative methods have been developed to create affordable housing and cages, effectively reducing production expenses and promoting industry growth.
