Vol. 12, Special Issue 10 (2023)

Author(s):
Saralika Ghosh, Arunasis Goswami and Sukanta Biswas

Abstract:
India ranks second in sheep and goat farming worldwide, following China. Small ruminants, such as- Sheep, play a crucial role in the Indian economy. Among these, the Garole breed of sheep, primarily found in the Sundarban region of West Bengal, stands out for its high prolificacy and adaptability. Sheep farming is particularly suited to the arid and semi-arid zones of India and is predominantly undertaken by marginal and landless farmers. The Garole sheep breed is widespread throughout the Sundarban region of West Bengal. This study aims to investigate the impact of knowledge-based adoption behaviour among farmers over the years and its implications for sheep farming in the region. The study was conducted in the Sundarban regions under North and South 24 parganas districts of West Bengal, with a focus on the Basanti and Sandesh Khali-II Blocks and their respective villages, selected based on the Sheep population. A total enumeration of 200 families was carried out, utilizing a structured interview schedule during the period of 2021-2022. The collected data were presented in a tabular format, highlighting frequencies and percentages across different categories and subcategories. Based on the findings of thestudy, various curative and preventive approaches and strategies are proposed to address the challenges faced by Garolesheep owners and minimize potential losses in their farming endeavours.