Himachal promoting sheep, Angora rabbit rearing

The Himachal Pradesh government is strengthening its farms to promote sheep and Angora rabbit rearing, one of the main occupations of people in the hill state, an official said Sunday.

The sheep breeding farms at Jeori in Shimla district, Tal in Hamirpur district and Sarol in Chamba district would be strengthened, a government spokesperson told IANS.

He said a project would be launched soon to augment income of the goat breeders.

The project, which aims to improve productivity of goats, would cover 20 clusters having 2,000 goats in each cluster by providing feed supplements, medicines and vaccines to the livestock.

About 37 percent agricultural families in the state rear sheep to supplement their agrarian economy.

Rampur Bushari and Gaddi breeds are famous for indigenous carpet wool production in the country.

Likewise, the rearing of Angora rabbit is another good source of income and self-employment.

With the assistance of United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the state government has established a germ plasma centre at Nagwain in Mandi district where the pure breed of Angora rabbit is being bred on scientific lines.

Another rabbit farm is also being run in Kandwari in Kangra district where German Angora rabbits are being reared.

The spokesperson said to provide training to staff and farmers in scientific cattle management, a fully equipped training centre with hostel facilities would be established at Ghanahatti near Shimla at a cost of Rs.1.75 crore.

The hill state is also home to world famous Chamurthi breed of horses found in the picturesque Pin Valley in Lahaul-Spiti district and Hangrang in Kinnaur district.

The spokesperson said a horse breeding farm is being run at Lari in Lahaul-Spiti to preserve this breed of horse which is surefooted and best mode of transportation in remote and hard areas.