AN ECONOMIC STUDY OF GAUSHALAS IN SOUTHERN KARNATAKA
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Date
2020
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Publisher
ICAR-SRS, NDRI, Karnal
Abstract
India has a rich and diverse livestock population. According to 20th livestock census
India has around 193.46 million cattle population showing an increase of 1.3 per cent over
previous census. India has about 5 million stray cattle. Out of this 77,075 is reported in
Karnataka state. Gaushalas are considered to be the best alternative to manage the
increasing stray cattle population. Since Gaushalas have to take care of unproductive
animals, supported by charity, they need to be self-sustainable in long run. Thus, it is
important to study the economics of Gaushalas. In this regard, the present study was
undertaken with the following objectives: (i) to study profile of Gaushalas in Southern
Karnataka (ii) to study the economic sustainability of Gaushalas and (iii) to identify and
prioritize constraints faced by the Gaushalas.
A sample of 18 Gaushalas spread over 13 districts of Southern Karnataka was
covered for the study. Both the primary and secondary data were collected for five years
from 2015 to 2019 and analyzed. The analytical techniques employed included ratio
analysis, computation of income diversification index and Economic Sustainability Index
(ESI) and Garret ranking technique to find out major constraints. The chief findings and
conclusions of the study are as follows.
• The cattle population varied from as low as 42 to as high as 3328 in sample Gaushalas.
• The inflow of cattle into Gaushalas was found to be increasing. The major reasons for
this trend were increase in unproductive cattle left by the farmers, rescued animals from
illegal slaughterhouses etc. The death of cattle was the major reason for outflow.
• Adult female cattle constituted maximum percentage of total cattle population (39 per
cent), followed by adult male (21 per cent) in Gaushalas.
• The major sources of income were donations (64 per cent) followed by government
grants (23 per cent) and sales (11 per cent). This indicates that the major portion of
income was from external sources.
• The major expenditure items were feed and fodder costs (68 per cent) followed by
labour expenses (18 per cent).
• The net income varied from Rs 15436 per annum per animal to Rs -4030.49 per annum
per animal. The net income was negative for some Gaushalas because of addition of
fixed expense component in total expenses of Gaushalas but the average returns over
variable cost was found positive for all Gaushalas.
• The overall Income diversification index value was found to vary from 0.27 to 0.77.
Gaushalas were largely depended on private donations and Government grants which
makes them less sustainable, So, there is a need to diversify income sources such as
income from sale of milk, milk products and other by-products.
• ESI values were computed by using 5 indicators viz., net income per animal, returns
over variable cost, self-sufficiency, dependency and percentage of productive animals.
Based on ESI values Gaushalas were grouped into low, moderate and high sustainable
categories. The ESI value varied from 0.19 to 0.64. Out of 18 Gaushalas, 39 per cent
were less sustainable, 55 per cent moderately sustainable and only 6 per cent were
under high sustainable category. Low sustainable category Gaushalas should learn
from Gaushalas which were managed sustainably.
• The major overall constraints with the Gaushalas were high cost of medicines/
veterinary services (70.28), Irregular government grants (63.89), Less Space for shed
(63.33), High cost of concentrates (62.50), Lack of improved equipment’s (62.28) and
Inadequate value addition(62.22).