STATUS OF WOOL INDUSTRY IN HIMACHAL PRADESH

With its hilly terrain, a relatively backward State like Himachal Pradesh has
very limited scope of industrialization. Traditional handicrafts and weaving of
woolen handloom fabric are the main occupations after agriculture and these
offer a great scope to provide employment particularly in the rural sector. At the
moment, the State of H.P. does not have any organized Mill Sector dealing
exclusively with wool-based industry.
The H.P. has an established tradition of handloom industry in woolen sector with
an annual wool production in the State of about 1600 tones. In additions, about
10MT Angora wool is also produced. With the revival of Indo China border
TRADE from routes through Himachal Pradesh, import of high quality wool and
pashmina from China is likely to give a further boost to this industry in the
Pradesh. Consequent upon various Sheep and Wool Development Programmes
being executed by the State and encouraging response of the local sheep
breeders, the total wool production in the State has been showing an upward
trend in the recent past. In 1962-63, the total wool production in the State was
just to the tune of 628.679 tones.
The breeds of Himachal Pradesh are renowned sheep breeds of India but are
medium type wool producers. The wool produced in Himachal Pradesh is better
than the carpet wool produced by the sheep of Rajasthan and can easily be used
for the production of woolen products. This wool is however inferior for Apparel
making Industry because of the presence of dead fiber, short staple length and
vegetable matters
The main objectives of the Federation are as under:-
- To promote the growth and development of wool industry in the State of
Himachal Pradesh.
- To free wool breeders from exploitation by the middleman/TRADERS.
- To promote production, shearing, procurement and processing of the wool.
- To impart training and technical know-how to the breeders in order to
improve their skill in shearing, grading etc.
- To establish wool procurement and grading centers.
- To establish wool research and quality control laboratories for research &
extension work in wool.
- To undertake MARKETING of wool within and outside state.
- To initiate welfare measures for sheep breeders.

The Federation is actively engaged in the following activities to accomplish their objectives.

(A) Procurement of Sheep and Angora wool

For long-term sustainability of the sector in general and breeders in particular, the Federation
undertakes procurement of sheep and angora wool directly from the breeders. This ensures
remunerative prices, MARKETING facilities to the breeders and elimination if middlemen.

(B) Rabbit Feed Distribution:

In order to develop and strengthen the angora farming, the Federation is providing quality rabbit
feed to the angora breeders at most competitive prices.
(C) Sheep Shearing:

Traditionally the sheep are reared by nomads/tribesmen called the `Gaddi` in Chamba & Kangra
districts who migrate alongwith their livestock to alpine pastures in summers and to lower
hills/plains during the winters in search of pastures. The Federation is taking care of sheep
shearing requirements in the State in a most modernized way by using imported sheep shearing
machines. The sheep shearing facilities are being provided at the pasture level.

(D) Sheep wool scouring:

The Federation is providing wool washing and drying facilities at Palampur. Wool is washed by a
mechanical procedure using detergents to remove the washable impurities like dust, dirt & grease.
It is also the first mechanical step towards processing of wool.

(E) MARKETING:

The Federation is actively engaged in the MARKETING of sheep and angora wool. For this purpose
the established markets of Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan are regularly studied and all out efforts
are made to fetch best possible price. Before selling the wool, grading of the same is done by the
technical personnel of the Federation. The normal sales cycle is for 30 to 45 days depending upon
the market variables

PROCUREMENT OF SHEEP AND ANGORA WOOL:

One of the major functions of the Wool Federation is the procurement of

sheep and angora wool at remunerative prices. The procurement is undertaken at field
level throughout the year for which purpose procurement camps are organized at
village/block level from time to time. The Federation is maintaining a revolving fund of `
88.39 Lac for this purpose.

The details of procurement undertaken for the last Five Years are as hereunder:-

Sheep Wool Angora Wool

Sr. Year Purchase Value Purchase Value
No.

Qty. (Kgs.) ( ` in Lac) Qty. (Kgs.) ( ` in Lac)

1. 2010-2011 1,94,197.328 87.91 100.000 0.60

2. 2011-2012 1,15,040.440 56.09 4.600 0.03

3. 2012-2013 75695.330 42.28 1.770 0.01

4. 2013-2014 61923.750 34.27 - -

5. 2014-2015 52211.550 28.78 - -

(Upto 30-11-14)
B) MARKETING OF WOOL:

The Federation is actively engaged in the marketing of sheep and

angora wool. The turnover for the last Five years is given as under:
(Value in ` Lac)
Sheep Wool Angora Wool
Sr. No Year Sale Sale

Qty. (Kgs.) Value Qty. (Kgs.) Value

1 2010-2011 1,50,734.720 66.36 100.000 1.05

2 2011-2012 1,17,870.350 72.40 0.000 0.00

3 2012-2013 39,709.000 38.99 - -

4 2013-2014 1,50,560.190 113.57 6.370 0.10

5 2014-2015 (Upto - - - -
30-11-14)
C) SHEEP SHEARING:

The achievements of sheep shearing which is being undertaken by the

Federation for the last Five years at village/pasture level are as under:-

Sr. No. Year Sheep Sheared

1. 2010-2011 56,272

2. 2011-2012 71,297

3. 2012-2013 78,492

4. 2013-2014 86,235

5. 2014-2015 (Upto 30-11-14) 62,349

D) SHEEP WOOL SCOURING:

The Federation has a modernized plant for wool scouring and

carbonizing in Banuri, Palampur. The achievements of the plant for the last Five years
are as under:-

Sr. No. Year Wool Processed

(in Kgs.)

1 2010-2011 42,314.000

2 2011-2012 58,600.000

3 2012-2013 73,686.000

4 2013-2014 33,070.000

5 2014-2015 (Upto 30-11-14) 4032.700

E) SUPPLIES OF VETERINARY EQUIPMENTS AND MEDICINES:

As per the State Government policy, the Federation is also facilitating

the procurement of Veterinary Equipment and Medicines for the Animal Husbandry
Department H.P.

Wool Rates

Wool procurement rates fixed by the State Government in the last Five years are
as under:-

Sheep Wool Angora

Wool
Sr. Year Rate in ` per kg. Rate in ` per kg.
N
o.

Winter Clip Summer Clip Autumn Clip Grade A Grade B

1 2010-2011 25.50 35.00 55.00 White 600.00 500.00

wool
45.00 Black wool

2 2011-2012 25.50 35.00 55.00 White 600.00 500.00

wool
45.00 Black wool

3 2012-2013 25.50 White 35.00 White 55.00 White 600.00 500.00

wool wool wool
25.50 Black 35.00 Black 45.00 Black wool
wool(up to wool(up to (up to 23.9.12)
23.9.12) 23.9.12) 60.50 White
28.05 White 38.50 White wool
wool wool 45.00 Black wool
25.50 Black 35.00 Black (From 24.9.12)
wool(From wool(From
24.9.12) 24.9.12)

4 2012-2013 28.05 White 38.50 White 60.50 White 600.00 500.00

wool wool wool
25.50 Black 35.00 Black wool 45.00 Black wool
wool

5 2014-2015 28.05 White 38.50 White 60.50 White 600.00 500.00

wool wool wool
25.50 Black 35.00 Black wool 45.00 Black wool
wool (up to (up to
(up to 09.11.14) 09.11.14)
09.11.14) 38.50 White 65.00 White
31.00 White wool wool
wool 46.20 White 78.00 White
 37.20 White Crossbred wool Crossbred wool
Crossbred wool 35.00 Black 45.00 Black
25.50 Black wool wool
wool (From (From
(From 10.11.14) 10.11.14)
10.11.14)

Products
Centrally Sponsored Scheme

DETAILS OF GOVERNMENT SPONSORED SCHEMES

Sr. Scheme Duration Activity under the Financial Status as on

N Scheme Outlay 30.11.2014
o. (` in Lac)

1 Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (2014-2015)

1 Developing 2014-
Infrastructural 2015
Facilities for
Facilitating the
Sheep and Goat
Breeders of
Himachal Pradesh

(i) Creation of Construction of storing 25.00 50% grant

Scientific Storage shed received
Facility for Wool at Concrete flooring
Jeori Distt. Shimla Laying of kota stone

(ii) Farmers Furniture fixture for the 20.00 -do-

Training Centre Farmers Training Hall
and Hostel at Furniture fixture for
Banuri, Palampur Farmers Hostel
Distt. Kangra Flooring of hall, open
space, foyers etc. and other
miscll.

(iii) Mobile sheep Purchase of material 96.00 -do-

dip tanks (Jet Purchase of camping
Spray Type) equipment for vets.
alongwith dipping
and drenching
materials

2 Augmenting 2014- Purchase of material 159.00 -do-

Sustainability of 2015
Sheep & Goat
Breeders of H.P.

3 Improving 2014- Health care 198.42 Project

Productivity of 2015 Organization of sanctioned.
Goats under training ca Grant in aid
Conventional Small mps yet to be
Holders/Pastoral received.
System

4 National Livestock 2014- Health care 40.00 Grant in aid

Mission- Sub- 2015 yet to be
mission -Livestock received.
Development
 Central Wool Development Board Ministry of Textiles, Govt. of India
Jodhpur(2014-2015)

5 Breed 2014- Breed Improvement 25.00 Grant in aid

Improvement of 2015 received.
Gaddi, Rampur
Bushairi and its
crosses (under
IWIP in the
Districts of Shimla,
Kinnaur, Kullu,
Kangra and
Chamba)

6. Procurement of 2014- Sheep shearing 40.20 50% grant

Sheep Shearing 2015 machines and accessories received
Machines under
quality processing
of wool