Vol. 8, Special Issue 4 (2023)

Sheep value chains include all inputs and services that enable live sheep production through transporting, processing and marketing of outputs, to creation of added value products such as meat through consumption of the animal source foods and related products. Owing to the increased demand for meat and value products a study on “Value chain analysis of sheep farmers in Andhra Pradesh” was carried out to ascertain different channels involved in sheep production and marketing and their role in increasing meat production in Andhra Pradesh. Value chains that are most commonly followed were taken and presented with approximate values of cash flows in each step i.e., for the farmer sale price was calculated by the total sale price of animals/total number of animals and estimated margin per sheep purchased and sold were calculated based on the data obtained. Seven individual value chains were most commonly observed. Value chain II is very prevalent in villages and sheep in small numbers move through a lot of such chains across villages. Large volumes of sheep are being traded by chain V. The share that the farmer receives of the final value lies between 76 per cent to 81 per cent or about 78.5 per cent on an average.