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Utilisation of Garole sheep wool: a step towards the alleviation of poverty

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 November 2009

Sandip Banerjee*
Affiliation:
B-1/87, Kalyani, Nadia, West Bengal 741235, India
*
Correspondence to: S. Banerjee, B-1/87, Kalyani, Nadia, West Bengal 741235, India. email: sansoma2003@yahoo.co.in
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Summary

Garole is a breed of sheep reared in the Sunderban region of India and Bangladesh. The animals of this breed are adapted to the hot and humid coastal region and are often seen grazing in water. Garole are reared as mutton sheep. The value of their wool is grossly ignored and presently wasted. The raw wool obtained from this breed can be stored for a long time without any significant deterioration in quality, that might be attributed to the genetic tolerance of the breed towards fleece rot. The wool quality parameters of Garole sheep indicate that the wool is coarse but has an excellent felting property. The raisers of these sheep are economically challenged members of the society, and handicrafts produced from the wool can assist in the alleviation of poverty as well as provide an alternative livelihood. An organisation has taken steps in scientific sheep rearing in the region and has assisted in training members of the community in the production of rugs from the wool. The organisation is also providing assistance in marketing the products developed on behalf of the beneficiaries.

Résumé

Garole est une race de moutons élevés dans la région Sunderban de l'Inde et du Bangladesh. Les animaux sont bien adaptés dans la région côtière chaude et humide et sont souvent vus en paissant dans le genou l'eau profonde. La race est élevée essentiellement comme les moutons de mouton, pendant que la valeur de la fibre est grossièrement ignorée et est gaspillée jusqu'à la date. La laine brute obtenue de cette race peut être conservée depuis longtemps sans n'importe quelle détérioration apparente dans les traits qualitatifs, qui pourraient être attribués à la tolérance génétique de la race vers la pourriture de toison et le pied. La laine est grossière, mais a une propriété felting excellente. Les rearers sont économiquement défiés les membres de la société et des habiletés manuelles produites de la laine peuvent aider au soulagement de pauvreté 1aussi bien que fournir une source alternative de moyens d'existence. Une organisation a fait le pas dans les moutons scientifiques se cabrant dans la région et aidant aussi aux membres s'entraînant de la communauté dans la production de petits tapis felted de la laine obtenue des moutons Garole qu'il commercialise de la part des membres du moi les groupes d'aide les produisant.

Resumen

La Garole es una raza ovina criada en la región de Sunderban en la India y Bangladesh. Los animales de esta raza se han adaptado a la región costera húmeda y cálida, y se les puede ver con frecuencia pastando en el agua. Se trata de ovejas orientadas hacia la producción cárnica. El valor de la lana obtenida de estas ovejas es enormemente ignorado y actualmente se desaprovecha. La lana sin tratar obtenida de esta raza puede ser almacenada durante mucho tiempo sin sufrir ningún tipo de deterioro significativo con respecto a su calidad, lo cual podría ser atribuido a las características genéticas de la raza contra el deterioro del vellón. Los parámetros de calidad de la lana de la oveja Garole, según se refleja en el texto, indican que la lana se corresponde con un tipo de lana basta pero que presenta unas buenas propiedades para ser trabajada con fines textiles. Dentro de la sociedad actual, los criadores de ganado ovino afrontan diferente tipo de retos económicos, y la artesanía obtenida de la lana puede ayudar a aliviar la pobreza, además de a proporcionar una fuente alternativa de sustento. Una organización ha dado un paso adelante en esta región a la hora de criar animales de la especie ovina de una forma más científica, así como a la hora de ayudar a formar a los miembros de la comunidad en la fabricación de alfombras hechas de esta lana. La organización también está prestando su ayuda en la comercialización de los productos desarrollados en nombre de los beneficiarios.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations 2009

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