Agricultural Economics Research Review Vol. 21 July-December 2008 pp 211-220 Socio-economic Dimensions of Equine-rearing in Himachal Pradesh S.K. Chauhan* Department of Agricultural Economics CSK Himachal Pradesh Agricultural University, Palampur - 176 062, Himachal Pradesh Abstract Since equines play an important role in the economy of Himachal Pradesh, this study has examined the growth trends in equine population and socio-economic characteristics of equine-rearers. The problems being faced have been identified and some policy recommendations have been made. It has been found that equine population had a compound growth rate of 2.57 per cent per annum during the period 1966-2003 and constituted about 1 per cent of the total livestock population in 2003. Amongst different constituents of equines, viz. horses, ponies, mules and donkeys, mules have shown the maximum rise in number. The contribution of equines has been assessed to be 40 per cent in the gross household income of rearers. A mule pair has been found to be highly profitable for load-carrying activities. Road links to the villages having modern means of transport have been perceived to be the greatest threat to equine-rearing activity, followed by its disliking by younger generations and non- availability of locally-bred mules. The study has emphasized on increased supply of Chamurthi horses through identification of additional local breeders by adopting systematic breeding policy, particularly in the Pin Valley of Spiti area. Keeping in view the demand for mules, their breeding should be undertaken at both public and at private levels so that local-bred mules become available at affordable prices. Introduction such as immediate transportation of highly perishable cash crops like fruits and vegetables grown in hills In Himachal Pradesh, livestock-rearing is an in the event of road blockades due to landslides; integral part of the state economy, contributing one- carrying wood logs and other minor forest produce third to the total value of agriculture. In the livestock to the road heads/depots (Birthal et al., 2002 b); sector, equines, representing nearly 1 per cent of total transporting building materials from rivulet/river livestock population, play an important role in the beds and road heads to construction sites; economy of Himachal Pradesh. Equines — the maintaining supply of foodgrains through PDS, important means of transport in the mountain areas, particularly to the tribal communities inhabited in despite being affected by the incessant process of far flung areas and threshing of foodgrains. The mechanization and rural development, continue to mules have also become a source of motive power be useful in view of the emerging environmental for agricultural operations like ploughing and degradation threats following construction of sowing, particularly for mule-keeping households intensive road network in the state. Interconnectivity with marginal landholdings (Anonymous, 2003). of every village through roads in mountain areas is Besides, horse-breeding has been adopted as the still a dream to achieve. Under these mountain major source of livelihood by the tribal communities specificities, equines carry out multifarious activities in certain pockets of cold desert (Lahaul-Spiti and Kinnaur districts) since times immemorial (Dixit, *Email: skchauhan@ hillagric.ernet.in 1997). A review of literature on equine husbandry 212 Agricultural Economics Research Review Vol.21 July-December 2008 revealed that its economic aspects have not been Results and Discussion adequately studied in our country (Birthal et al., 2002 a) and therefore, a study was undertaken with the Growth Trends in Livestock Population following objectives: The livestock population in Himachal Pradesh • To examine the growth trends in equine during the period 1966-2003, shown in Table 1, population over a period of time, indicates that cattle, followed by goats, sheep and buffaloes constitute the important components of • To study the socio-economic characteristics, viz. livestock in the state. The equines constituted about social status, traditions, employment, costs and 1 per cent of the total livestock population in the returns of equine-rearers, and state, with an increasing trend over the study period. • To identify the problems and constraints of The growth pattern of equines population, given in equine-rearers and suggest policy Table 2, revealed a compound growth rate of 2.57 recommendations for a better development of per cent per annum for the period 1966-2003. equine-rearing. Amongst different constituents of equines, viz. horses & ponies, mules and donkeys, mules have Methodology shown the maximum rise in their number, from 6.49 The study forms a part of the University ad hoc thousand in 1966 to 23.94 thousand in 2003, with research project entitled, “Socio-economic an overall compound growth rate of 7.27 per cent Perspectives of Equine-rearers in the Mountains”, per annum. Donkeys have shown a constant rise in funded by ICAR, New Delhi. The study was their number with overall growth rate of 2.48 per undertaken in five most equine-populous districts cent per annum for the period 1966-2003. Horses of Himachal Pradesh, namely Kangra, Kinnaur, and ponies recorded a negative growth rate during Lahaul-Spiti, Mandi and Shimla. Multi-stage random 1972-77 and 1982-92, with the overall growth rate sampling technique was followed to select a sample of 0.49 per cent per annum. of 150 equine-rearers through the proportional Relationship between Equine Population and allocation method. Both primary and secondary data Human Population were collected during the years 2001 and 2002. Regression and tabular analyses were followed to Since livestock population varies according to arrive at the specified objectives. human population, an attempt was made to quantify Table 1. Livestock population in Himachal Pradesh: 1966-2003 (Per cent) Sl No. Species 1966 1972 1977 1982 1992 2003 1 Cattle 45.0 46.3 43.9 43.6 42.3 43.5 2 Buffalo 9.9 11.5 11.7 12.3 13.7 15.3 3 Sheep 25.0 22.1 22.0 21.9 21.1 18.0 4 Goats 19.3 19.3 21.6 21.3 21.9 22.1 5 Horses & ponies 0.4 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 6 Mules 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.3 0.5 7 Donkeys 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.2 8 Equines (5+6+7) 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.7 0.7 1.0 9 Others (camels, pigs, yaks, etc.) 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.1 10 Total livestock (’000 heads) 4,201 4,702 4,795 4,989 5,117 5,046 Source: Livestock Census (1992 & 2003), Directorate of Land Records and Animal Husbandry, Government of Himachal Pradesh. Chauhan : Socio-economic Dimensions of Equine-rearing in Himachal Pradesh 213 Table 2. Growth pattern of equine population in Himachal Pradesh: 1966-2003 Sl No. Species Compound growth rate (% per annum) 1966-72 1972-77 1977-82 1982-92 1992-03 1966-03 1 Horses & ponies 1.88 -1.75 2.33 -1.69 1.99 0.49 2 Mules 1.27 3.22 9.06 2.60 4.19 7.27 3 Donkeys 0.99 4.38 1.72 1.30 1.55 2.48 4 Equines (1+2+3) 1.57 0.71 4.29 0.55 2.87 2.57 5 Total livestock 1.90 0.39 0.79 0.25 - 0.13 0.54 Table 3. Spatial densities of equines in Himachal Pradesh as per 2003 Census (Number/km2) Sl District Horses Mules Donkeys Equine Human Equine Human No. & ponies population population population (% of total) (% of total) 1 Bilaspur 0.083 0.782 0.347 1.212 292 2.83 5.60 2 Chamba 0.279 0.599 0.087 0.955 71 12.48 7.58 3 Hamirpur 0.123 1.048 0.225 1.396 369 3.13 6.79 4 Kangra 0.739 0.771 0.078 1.588 233 18.25 22.03 5 Kinnaur 0.102 0.058 0.398 0.558 12 7.16 1.29 6 Kullu 0.478 0.087 0.029 0.594 69 6.54 6.28 7 Lahaul-Spiti 0.085 0.003 0.166 0.254 2 7.04 0.55 8 Mandi 0.601 1.217 0.087 1.905 228 15.07 14.83 9 Shimla 0.399 0.772 0.176 1.347 141 13.86 11.89 10 Sirmaur 0.390 0.819 0.143 1.352 162 7.65 7.55 11 Solan 0.264 0.743 0.231 1.238 259 4.80 8.24 12 Una 0.223 0.105 0.059 0.387 291 1.19 7.37 13 H.P. 0.308 0.430 0.159 0.897 109 100 100 (i) Regression equation showing the relationship between spatial equine population and human population densities: * 2 Dep= 0.6573+ 0.0023 Dhp : R = 0.2871; r = 0.5458 (0.242) (0.001) where, Dep and Dhp are densities of equine and human populations, respectively (ii) Regression equation showing the relationship between spatial (district-wise) percentage of equine population and human population: * 2 Pep = 2.7084 + 0.6750 Php : R = 0.5267; r = 0.7257 (2.025) (0.202) where, Pep and Php are percentages of equine and human populations, respectively the relationship between them and the results have percentage increase in equine population was 0.68 been presented district-wise in Table 3. From the at 1 per cent level of significance. data in this table, it was revealed that there existed a positive correlation (0.54) not only between equine Relationship between Equine Population and and human population density but also between spatial Road Network percentage of equine and human population variables The district-wise equine population and road to the extent of +0.72.