Angora wool production hit in Himachal

Himachal Pradesh - once a major producer of soft angora rabbit wool - is losing that distinction fast.

The large drop in production in angora wool is being blamed on the open general licence policy that is forcing farmers to abandon angora rabbit rearing.

Mill owners now prefer to import cheaper angora wool from China, South Korea and Australia.

According to animal husbandry department officials, the number of angora producers has come down from 200 to 60 in less than a decade.

"Six years ago there were some 200,000 angora rabbits, but their number has dwindled to 40,000. Also, the price of angora wool that was Rs.1,000 per kg is now just half," said an official of the animal husbandry department.

Angora was introduced in a big way in the hill state in the 1970s and German, British and Russian angora rabbits were imported.

The Central Sheep and Wool Research Institute, Kullu, played a major role in the propagation and distribution of rabbit stock to farmers.

Besides Himachal, Uttaranchal and Sikkim hills also produce angora wool.