Equine Husbandry in The Mountains: A Socio Economic Analysis

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The main purpose behind this book is to portray the socio-economic life of the poor people who are solely dependant upon the equine rearing for their livelihood. Besides the importance of these animals can not be undermined even in the era of modernization particularly in the mountain specificities where road development can not be undertaken without disturbing the environment of the area. The book has emphasized on the application of economic principles for the benefit of the readers. The presentation of the material has been deliberately kept simple supported with data and photographs so that it could be understood and used even by literate progressive farmers who may not have any previous training in the subject. Extension specialists in the equine management and other extension workers engaged in equine development programme can also benefit from this book. The value of this book is especially enhanced by the analysis presented in a simple form based on actual experience and data collected from the equine rearers in the mountain locked areas. With regard to the method of exposition, mathematical and stastical tools have been used at appropriate places. Important information on progressive equine breeders has been given.

S.K. CHAUHAN (b. 1958) is working as Associate Professor in the Department of Agricultural Economics, College of Agriculture, Palampur, in Chaudhary Sarwan Kumar Himachal Pradesh Agricultural University. He has a rich and varied experience in the fields of research and teaching with nearly two decades of service. He has published 70 research articles and one book on Economics of Sheep Farming besides preparing one practical manual on farm management for the benefit of undergraduate students in agriculture. He has guided three M. Sc. (Ag) students in agricultural economics in their research. He has completed five research projects as Principal Investigator and fifteen as Co-Principal Investigator funded by the State Government of Himachal Pradesh, ICAR, ICSSR, NWDP, and ICIMOD in the areas of irrigation projects, wastelands, vegetables, fisheries, indigenous honeybees, beekeeping, sericulture and equine husbandry.

The economy of mountain and hilly areas is agro-pastoral where majority (>90%) of the people living in rural areas, in one way or the other are linked with livestock rearing. Almost every household possesses animals of one species or the other for making their livelihood meaningful. Keeping in view the ecological and environmental degradation problems, which are more severe in these areas, construction of roads have caused great loss to the state economy in terms of reducing good forest areas at one hand and leading to landslides and silting problems on other. Heavy rains during raining season and sometimes early snowfall cause blockade of roads due to landslides. This causes great inconvenience and economic loss to the farming community of these areas who are mostly fulfilling the demand for fruits and vegetables of plain areas including the capital city of our country. In such a scenario, the pack animals especially the horses, mules, ponies and donkeys could be used as an alternate source of transport to minimize the post harvest losses of cash crops like vegetables and fruits, etc. at one hand and extensive use of mules and horses in transporting defence personnel and trekkers and their belongings - the luggage and necessary equipments as well as the source of entertainment to the ever growing tourism industry on the other. Viewing the above facts, the importance of pack animals particularly of equines cannot be under estimated in the economy of mountain areas like Himachal Pradesh and poor man's livelihood in particular. Thus, present study has been designed to highlight the problems and prospects of equine keeping in Himachal Pradesh and it is hoped that it will be helpful to the planners, policy makers and research institutions for further strengthening the so called extincting avocation. This study is the first of its kind in the area and will serve as the base for conducting more fruitful research and development in the field which will ultimately be helpful in improving the socio-economic status of equines rearers.

Agriculture, horticulture and animal husbandry in Himachal Pradesh together form an avocation of about 92% of the population which is mainly rural. Livestock rearing is an integral part of the state economy contributing one-third to the total value of agriculture. The livestock provide variety products and services like milk, wool, meat, manure, hides and skins, motive power for agricultural operations, transport, riding/sports and are of immense economic value to the farmers of the state. Thus, livestock is not only contributing towards agricultural production, but also is a source of self employment to rural people of state. Agriculture in general is characterized by decreasing farm size, coupled with high fragmentation and increased number of operational holdings. Such trend is an index of diversification of economic base. Therefore, scope exists for augmenting income and employment through diversified farming systems, integrating crops, livestock, and horticulture and fishery sub-sectors.

In the livestock sector, equine, that is, horses, ponies, mules and donkeys play an important role in agriculture by way of transporting agricultural/horticultural, building material in rural area and are used in tourism industry. Scant attention has so far been paid to equines despite the fact that they contribute a lot in the development of agriculture sector in developing regions. Data on equines shows that their numbers particularly of horses and ponies with exception of mules have been rapidly decreasing presumably due to the introduction of mechanical power, yet equines in the rural, tribal and hilly regions have retained their usefulness as pack and riding/sport animals. These animals are of vital importance in difficult mountain areas where interconnectivity of every village through roads is still a dream to achieve and also to a large extent infeasible proposition ecologically.