Sheep & Wool Development/Marketing of Wool

Marketing of wool in the State had been solely in the hands of private middlemen/traders to suit to the minimum pastoral needs of the sheep breeders and the private traders used to enjoy the maximum profits. An attempt was made to consolidate the disposal of produce of the sheep breeders and the purchase of commodities required by that breeder at one specific place. But the agents of traders used to contact the breeders right in the pasture and most of the wool was being disposed off before its arrival.

To bring the marketing system of wool in an organized form the State Government, under the guidance of Government of India, established “ The Himachal Pradesh State Cooperative Wool Procurement and Marketing Federation Limited” which was registered on 7 th November,1988. After the concerted efforts of raising the infrastructure the organization came into operation during 1991-92, but could not make head way in sheep wool marketing because of sub standard wool for which the main reason being two or more shearing per annum by sheep breeders. The motivation of sheep breeders to adopt single or double cut is being carried out by the Department and the State Wool Federation to fetch remunerative returns to this high quality wool.

The wool federation is providing following services to sheep breeders:-

H.P. Wool Federation procures wool from Sheep breeders on a minimum support price fixed by the Government.
H.P. Wool Federation is providing facility of wool shearing by shearing machines so as to improve quality of wool.
H.P. Wool Federation provide training to un-employed youth in shearing the sheep with shearing machines.
Federation is motivating farmers to adopt single or double shearing of sheep and wool grading so as to get maximum profit from wool.
Integrated sheep development Projects are being implemented by H.P. Wool Federation in District Kangra, Shimla, Kinnaur, Chamba and Mandi., These Projects are being sponsored by Central Wool Development Board, Jodhpur. The Project period is of 4 years and it covers 50,000 sheep in each District.
Sheep and Wool Improvement Scheme sanctioned by C.W.D.B. Jodhpur is also being implemented by Wool Fed. in Distt. Chamba, Kangra and Kullu.

At present HP Wool Fed. Procures wool from sheep breeders on below mentioned rates:

Autumn clip Rs. 50/ Kg
Winter clip Rs. 35/ Kg

Sheep breeders are also being educated to adopt wool grading so that they can get maximum monetary benefit from their produce.