Himachal faces huge drop in Angora wool output

Himachal Pradesh, which was once a major producer of the soft Angora rabbit wool production in India, has seen a huge drop in recent years.

This drop in production in Angora wool has been largely attributed to the Open General Licence Policy, which is forcing farmers to abandon Angora rabbit rearing.

Mill owners in the country now prefer to import much cheaper Angora wool from China, South Korea and Australia. State animal husbandry department officials say that from over 200 Angora producers in the state less than a decade ago, the number has reduced to 36.

"Six years ago there were some 200,000 Angora rabbits, but their number has dwindled to less than 40,000. Also, the price of Angora wool was Rs 1,000 per kg, which has reduced to Rs 500 per kg," said an official of the state animal husbandry department.

In the 1970s Angora was introduced in a big way in the hill state after the import of German, British and Russian Angora rabbits.

The Central Sheep and Wool Research Institute, Kullu, and its sub-stations played an important role in the propagation and distribution of rabbit stock to farmers. Besides, Himachal Pradesh Angora is also produced in Uttaranchal and Sikkim hills.