Vol. 9, Special Issue 5, Part B (2024)

Author(s): Mane YC, Shelke RD, Tawale JB and Thombare RA

Abstract: Sheep (Orvis arise) are most likely descended from the Europe and Asia and one of the earliest animals to be domesticated for agricultural purposes. Sheep help to control weeds, hence known as “Natural weed killer". The study was conducted to assess the socio-economic characteristics of sheep rearers in Solapur district of Maharashtra during year 2020-21. The data were collected through personal interview using a well structured questionnaire from 72 sheep rearers. Three groups of farmers were identified on the basis of flock size i.e. small, medium and large. The study showed that the average size of sheep rearer’s family was 5.12 members, consisting of 33.20 per cent males, 28.32 per cent females and 38.08 per cent children. In overall average size sheep unit rearers only 34.72 per cent farmers are illiterate and 65.26 per cent sheep rearers was literate. Most of the sheep rearers belonged to lower caste. It means general caste people were rearing the goat as a secondary business on a small scale while lower category people doing the sheep farming as a primary business which will be helpful for upliftment of the socio-economic status of sheep rearers. The result showed that majority of sheeps is reared by farmers who have no or little land. The result showed that, in case of overall size of sheep unit majority 47.22% of respondents were marginal farmers are engaged in agriculture as their main occupation. About 44.44% farmers doing sheep rearing as there main occupation. 6.94% of the sheep owners were laborers.