Sheep Rearing for Enhanced Nutritional Security and Income Generation in Rural Rainfed Area of Telangana

Sheep farming is the strength of South India where chevon is preferred species for meat, but in some of the areas of Telangana, its farming has been discontinued due to forage unavailability. Rural masses are already suffering from food and nutritional deficiencies. In order to improve nutrient availability of poor households in rural areas of Vikarabad district, Telangana, low input technology sheep farming coupled with improved forage production has been introduced under farmers FIRST project for supplementing the earnings of poor farmer. Deccani and Nellore sheep breeds each five ewes and one doe were given to geo-tagged, pre-trained six small farmers from Gangupalle village (17.30° N, 77.98° E), Pudur Mandal, Vikarabad District, Telangana, India for rearing. For comparison, the performance of 14 non-descript goats were also monitored. The nutritional status pre-and post-intervention was assessed and as per the revenue generated from selling of sheep, 70% of money were allocated for egg, chicken and chevon purchases for family consumption. On adult unit basis, diet was deficient in energy as well as protein and it had too low energy levels to meet their Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) requirements. After the intervention, the energy deficiency in diet was reduced to meet out BMR requirement in all categories of people in the family. The diet chart revealed that females and children were more deficient in diet than males in an ideal family of six people. After the intervention, the diet was excess in protein to the tune of 14.27, 3.73 and 63.02% in the male, female and children, respectively. The study revealed significant higher production performances of indigenous sheep (76.4% better body weight) over the non-descript goat has a better support system to livelihood and nutritional security in the dryland region.