Which state accounts for the highest wool production in India?

Rajasthan is the largest producer of wool in India, contributing around 45 to 50 per cent of the country's total wool production in many years. It also has one of the largest sheep populations among Indian states.

Why Rajasthan leads:

• Its arid and semi-arid climate and vast grazing lands in the Thar Desert and its fringes are suited to sheep rearing.
• Sheep can survive on sparse vegetation and little water, providing a livelihood where crop farming is difficult.
• Traditional pastoral communities, such as the Raika (Rebari) and other herders, have reared sheep for generations.

Sheep breeds of Rajasthan:

• Chokla (Shekhawati): known for the finest carpet wool among Indian breeds.
• Magra (Bikaneri Chokri): produces lustrous carpet wool.
• Marwari: a hardy breed of western Rajasthan, the most widespread.
• Nali, Pugal, Jaisalmeri, Malpura and Sonadi are other breeds.
• Most Indian wool is coarse and is used mainly for carpets, rugs and blankets, rather than fine apparel.

Wool centres and institutions:

• Bikaner has one of the largest wool markets in Asia and many wool processing units.
• The Central Sheep and Wool Research Institute (CSWRI) is at Avikanagar (Tonk district), Rajasthan.
• The Central Wool Development Board is located in Jodhpur.

Other wool-producing states:

• Karnataka, Telangana, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Jammu and Kashmir, and Himachal Pradesh are other important producers.
• Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh produce finer wool from breeds such as Gaddi and Rampur Bushair.

Fine wool from Kashmir:

Pashmina, one of the finest and most expensive wools, comes from the undercoat of the Changthangi goat of Ladakh, not from sheep.

India and wool:

India is among the larger wool producers in the world, but it imports fine apparel wool, mainly from Australia and New Zealand, for its woollen industry.

Why not the other options?

• ✗Jammu and Kashmir is known for fine wool and pashmina, but produces less wool than Rajasthan.
• ✗Himachal Pradesh produces wool from mountain breeds, but in smaller quantities.
• ✗Gujarat produces some wool, mainly from the Kutch region, but much less than Rajasthan.