Pashmina Goat Farming in Cold Arid Desert of Ladakh: a Geographical Study of Changthang Region
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International Journal of Advanced Scientific Research and Management, Vol. 2 Issue 11, Nov 2017. www.ijasrm.com ISSN 2455-6378 Pashmina Goat Farming in Cold Arid Desert of Ladakh: A Geographical Study of Changthang Region Imtiyaz Ahmad Malik 1 and Feroz A. Wani2 1 Centre of Central Asian Studies, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, 190006, India 2 PhD Research Scholar, Geography. University of Kashmir, Srinagar J&K India Abstract (Capra hircus), which is a special breed of goat Mountainous areas are environmentally the most indigenous to high altitudes of Himalayas in Nepal, fragile eco-systems. A strategy for resource Pakistan and Northern India. Pashmina can also be development in these delicate geo-ecological settings defined as the down (undercoat) fiber derived from should be region-specific and environment friendly. Cashmere goats with a diameter of 30 microns or The mechanization of agriculture suited to the large lessi. Pashmina has derived its name from the Persian plains is not advisable in mountainous areas having word ‘Pashm’ meaning, soft gold, the king of fibers. higher degree of slope, thin soil cover, poor soil It is well known for its fineness, warmth, softness, moisture and humus content. Under such desirable aesthetic value, elegance and timelessness circumstances crop farming has to be augmented in fashion. It is most luxurious fiber which is much through other area-specific economic activities. The softer than superfine merino wool of the same Changthang region of Ladakh is one such diameter with the result it commands much higher ecologically fragile region which is most vulnerable price. On equal weigh basis, it is having 3 times to negative anthropogenic impact. The rearing of more insulating capacity as that of wool. Changra goats is an important economic activity of Pashmina is the under fur of hairy quadrupeds in the people popularly known here as Changpa. The elevated land, north of Himalayas from the goats Pashmina harnessed from these Changra or producing material for Cashmere shawls. Four types Pashmina goats is a very precious kind of wool, of fibers Mohair, Pashmina, Cashgora, Guard hair which is used as a raw material to manufacture based on physical characteristics of various breeds Pashmina shawls, fetching handsome returns in the are obtained from various goats. Among these fibers domestic and international market. Pashmina with less than 19 µ diameter is the most precious and occupies prime position owing to its Keywords: Pashmina, Changthang, Pastoral, Cold firmness, warmth, durability, lightness, softness and Desert, Nomadic, Dehairing, Livestock, Changpa, ability to absorb dyes and moisture compared to the Sustainability. others. It is used for manufacturing costliest shawls, stoles, rumals and other quality apparels. Countries like South Africa, U.S.A and Turkey are famous for 1. Introduction Mohair production; Mongolia, India, former U.S.S.R for Pashmina production and New Zealand for Pashmina, a prince of specialty hair fiber is one of Cashgora production, China, Iran and Afghanistan the finest natural fibers. Encyclopedia of textiles for both Pashmina and guard hair production. China (1980) defines specialty hair fibers as the rare animal is the major contributor (70 per cent) followed by fibers which possess special qualities of fineness and Mongolia (20 per cent) of the world’s cashmere luster. Pashmina is the down fibers or undercoat production of 15000mt and rest 10 per cent is derived from domestic Changthang or Pashmina goat 110 International Journal of Advanced Scientific Research and Management, Vol. 2 Issue 11, Nov 2017. www.ijasrm.com ISSN 2455-6378 produced in USSR, India, Turkey and Pakistan. India with two recognized Pashmina breeds Changthangi and Chegu contributed with almost static annual production of 50 tonnes (<1 per cent) during last decade of total Pashmina production of world. The Changthangi goats with population of 206014 ii are distributed in high altitude of (3700 t0 4500 masl) cold arid Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir iii while as Chegu breed is distributed in cold arid trans-Himalayan mountain ranges from Himachal Pradesh to Uttaranchal at an altitude of more than 3000 m. the average Pashmina production of Changthangi breed is superior to Chegu breed with fiber fitness at par. The fiber from Changthangi goat with 10-14 µ diameters- an important determinant of quality, though produced in lesser quantity compared to other breeds of the world is considered best and warmest. Shawls and apparels prepared form the fiber are famous for their soft feel, natural luster, sheen and luxury in the world’s fashion capitals. the south. It is traversed by two other parallel chains, The present study takes into account the problems the Ladakh Range and the Zanskar Range. Ladakh and prospectus of Pashmina goat farming in the covers an expensive area of 86904 sq. kms which Changthang region of Ladakh and the initiatives spans the Himalayan and Karakoram mountain directed towards organised development of ranges and the upper Indus River valleyv. Apart from Changthangi goat by considering the performance of the natural boundaries of mountain which goats under field condition and the altitudinal surrounded it on its north and south, the artificial variations prevailing in various zones and villages of boundaries exist as well. On the north east of Ladakh Changthang. The breed reared under the pastoralist is Sinkiang territory of China, on the east Tibet and nomadic system relates to those live stock rearers towards south east are Lahul and Spiti districts of who have adopted to the environment with their Himachal Pradesh. To the south west lies valley of flocks and heards that act as their main source of Kashmir, and to the North West is Pakistan and also economy. the Pak-occupied Ladakh portion of Gilgit and Skardu. To the North West are found the subsidiary Geographical Setting of the Study Area ranges of Karakoram, Hispar, Rakaposi and Harmosh. Set deep in the Indian Himalayas on the western edge of the Tibetan plateau, Ladakh or ‘Little Tibet’ Fig.1 is one of the highest and driest inhabited places on the earth lying between the geographic coordinates The Ladakh region exhibits complex topography. of 34° 10’12”N 77°34’48”E/34.17°N 77.58°E. The most striking and obvious feature of the ladakh’s Ladakh is the highest plateau of the Indian state of landscape are the mountains and the aridity vi . It Jammu and Kashmir with much of it being over 3000 contains lofty mountains which show greater relative m (9800ft). Ladakh is a land abounding relief than any other place on the earth. The main overwhelming physical features and set in an iv ranges and valleys form a system of parallels in the enormous and stunning environment . It is bounded south east to the North West direction as that of by two of the world’s mightiest mountain ranges, the greater Himalaya. The mountain system that emerges Karakoram in the north and the Great Himalaya in from the north west are Kunlun, aghil, Karakorum, 111 International Journal of Advanced Scientific Research and Management, Vol. 2 Issue 11, Nov 2017. www.ijasrm.com ISSN 2455-6378 kailash, Ladakh, Zanskar and the great Himalayan period, age, kidding, yield of Pashmina, disease range. Lying in these great mountains are the great occurrence, marketing values etc. longitudinal valleys of Zanskar, Indus, Shyok and a The secondary data on Changthangi goats and other no of side valleys such as Nobra, Drass, Pangong and livestock species related to population dynamics, Suru. These valleys are drained by some great rivers geographical distribution, and production system was which originate from the glaciers on these lofty collected from field functionaries of sheep husbandry mountains. The drainage system of Ladakh includes department and various other livestock census the rivers of Indus, Zanskar, Shyok and Nobra. reports of Ladakh autonomous hill development Ladakh is the high altitude desert as the Himalayas council Leh (LAHDC). After successful collection of create a rain shadow, denying entry to monsoon data, the data was tabulated, analyzed and interpreted clouds. The region is virtually devoid of any rain fall in order to gauge the results. which is just below 20 cms per year. The main source of water is the winter snowfall on the mountains. Recent flooding in the region has been attributed to abnormal rain patterns and retreating Results and Discussion glaciers, both of which might be linked to global warming. The regions on the north flank of the The habitat of Pashmina goats is spread throughout Himalayas- Dras, the Suru valley and Zanskar- the mountaineers regions of Central Asia. The areas experience heavy snowfall and remain cutoff from of distribution for these breeds range from China the rest of region for several months in the year as proper through Xinjing into Tibet and Mongolia to the whole region remains cut off by road from the Kirghizia in and there are also other down producing rest of the country. Summers are short, though they goats in Russian Republic, Afghanistan and Iran. The are long enough to grow crops. The summer weather leading Pashmina producing countries in the world is dry and pleasant. Temperature ranges from 3°C to include China, Iran, Mongolia, Australia, New 35°C in summer and minimums ranges from -20°C Zealand, Britain, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India. to -35°C in winter. Out of the total world’s Pashmina production, China Our focus here has mainly be on Changthang region is producing 2/3th followed by Mongolia which which is a high altitude plateau in western and contributes 1/4th. Even though India contributes only northern Tibet extending into southeastern Ladakh about 1 per cent of the world’s Pashmina, but the with vast highlands and giant lakes. From Eastern Pashmina produced in India is best of the whole and Ladakh, Changthang stretches approximately occupies unique position.