NASHIK

Livestock farming in Nashik is mainly rural due to space constraints in the city. Some urban areas, like Ganeshwadi, have cattle-rearing for milk, but rural households widely practice it. Gaushalas provide milk, which locals say is preferred over packaged brands. Poultry farming is growing, as eggs are now a dietary staple. Nashik’s livestock includes poultry, milch, aquatic, and labor animals. Commonly reared cattle are cows, buffaloes, goats, and sheep, while hens, fish, and pigs are also farmed. 

Farmers, according to locals, prefer native cow breeds for their nutrient-rich milk, though hybrid varieties like Jersey cows have gained popularity for higher yields. Buffalo breeds such as Jaffara, Murrah, and Nagpuri are valued, and some farmers breed buffaloes for resale. Buffalo milk is considered harder to digest and is mainly consumed by adults. Oxen are crucial for plowing and transport, historically harnessed using wooden juwad and cotton ropes. The Kunbis and Kilharis (Thilaris) mainly breed oxen, while Vanjaris use pack bullocks in hilly areas. Cows calve at three years and live up to 20 years, producing around ten pints of milk for four months annually.

Common cow breeds include Gir, Red Sindhi, and Khilhari, while Murrah buffaloes are popular for milk. Sheep farming includes Gavrani and Harani breeds, with wool sheared in June and September. Goats, such as Nemadi and Deshi, are reared, with Jamnapari favored for milk and Boer for meat. Horse breeding is seen in Sinnar and Yeola. Poultry farming operates at both small and large scales, with locals preferring gavran hens for their nutritious eggs and meat. Kadaknath, a newer variety, has gained popularity for its taste and health benefits.

A significant change in livestock rearing practices in the Nashik district has been the adaptation to drought conditions, particularly in the Sinnar area, which has faced severe water scarcity. The Sinnar Taluka Vibhagiya Sahakari Dudh Utpadak Va Prakriya Sangh, a local cooperative, has played a vital role in supporting farmers by providing essential resources like water and fodder for their cattle. This initiative has been crucial in preventing the sale or abandonment of livestock during difficult times, ensuring that milk production remains a reliable source of income for many families.

Additionally, there has been a marked shift toward the use of hybrid breeds in dairy farming. Farmers are increasingly choosing high-yielding varieties, such as Jersey cows, which have become more prevalent in the region since the early 2000s. This transition not only enhances milk production but also aligns with the growing market demand for quality dairy products.

The Dhangar community in Nashik district, primarily composed of shepherds, is known for rearing sheep. They have a rich cultural heritage and a long history, with their Devta Khandoba holding significant importance in their traditions. Khandoba, believed to be the king of Jejuri, is said to have married Banai (or Banubaai), a Dhangar woman, which further elevated the community's status. Additionally, Balu Mama is a revered figure within the community, regarded as an avatar of Bhagwaan Mahadev; his presence in a village is considered auspicious, attracting visitors from afar.

In recent times, sheep rearing has become increasingly commercialized, drawing interest from non-Dhangars as well. For instance, Uttam Kolpe and his son Dinesh from Malegaon tehsil are engaged full-time in sheep farming, managing flocks valued between 60 to 80 lakhs. They often migrate their sheep to other villages like Askheda and Nampur during the summer months when water scarcity affects their home region. Managing around 300 sheep of a unique breed, which can cost approximately thirty thousand dollars each, poses significant challenges for shepherds who must secure food, water, and shelter for their animals. While veterinarians are employed to ensure the health of the sheep, shepherds are also skilled in basic animal care, including health assessments and delivering lambs. However, fatalities due to infections or other health issues are not uncommon in their flocks.

Veterinary hospitals and clinics in Nashik provide a range of services, from routine checkups and vaccinations to advanced surgical procedures and diagnostics. Some of the veterinary facilities in the district include:

• Pets Care Hospital, Ashoka Marg, Nashik
• Dr. Patil's Pet Clinic, Govind Nagar, Nashik
• Dr. Thakur's Pet Hospital, Tapovan Road, Nashik
• Pet Clinic (Gangapur Road), Gangapur Road, Nashik
• Nashik Pet Hospital,  Bhabha Nagar, Nashik
• NOMADICUS, Small Animal Clinic, Nashik
• Shivaji Nagar Government Veterinary Hospital, Shivaji Nagar, Nashik

The Sinnar Market Yard in Sinnar is a prominent hub for cattle and buffalo trading, attracting farmers and traders from nearby areas, especially during peak seasons. It operates regularly, providing a platform for local pastoralists to sell their livestock directly to buyers, ensuring better prices.

Another key market is the Niphad Market in Niphad taluka, which serves as a crucial link for farmers to access larger markets. It hosts special events during festivals, boosting livestock sales and attracting more buyers. The Yeola Market is notable for its focus on cattle trading, supporting dairy farmers and traders with well-organized facilities that include veterinary services to ensure animal health.

The Malegaon Market plays a vital role in trading goats and sheep, catering to local pastoralists who rely on these animals for their livelihood. It is known for competitive pricing and a variety of livestock, serving as an important economic center for the community.

Additionally, the Deola Bazaar hosts a weekly market that primarily serves surrounding villages, facilitating trade in various livestock and agricultural produce. It acts as a crucial gathering point for pastoralists and traders. The Nampur Cattle Market in village Nampur specializes in cattle sales and is frequented by farmers looking to buy or sell animals, further connecting local pastoralists with buyers.

According to the Nashik District Gazetteer (1975), the district had few large ponds or lakes, and fish were not abundant except in certain pools of the Godavari, Girna, and Darna rivers, where they were said to be plentiful. Various local fish species were identified, including marel, which could grow up to twenty pounds and reportedly spawned in March or April; vaddio, averaging four to six pounds and spawning in August; and balo or pahadi, slightly larger than the vaddio, which thrived in still waters and had a later spawning season. Shiwdha, another variety, weighed between fourteen and sixteen pounds but could sometimes reach twenty pounds, preferring rocky environments. Smaller species included bodad, which lived in river rapids and rocky beds; kolas, which favored sandy and muddy bottoms and spawned in March or April; muri, a tiny fish found in sandy riverbeds; aral, a long, narrow fish weighing up to a pound and found in muddy river bottoms; and tam, a flatter, shorter species that lived among stones. Other recorded species included govgali, malia, sandkol, chapati, andur, and kanusa, each with distinct habitats and spawning periods.

At the time, fishing was a year-round activity with little regard for breeding seasons. Locals reportedly used large drag nets to catch fish in river pools and ponds, particularly in the Godavari River during the dry months. Three main types of cotton-thread fishing nets were in use: the mandur (quarter-inch mesh), savdi (half-inch mesh), and angutni (three-quarter-inch mesh). These nets, primarily made by the Bhoi and Dhimar communities, lasted only a season and were relatively inexpensive. Another commonly used net was the pelni, a triangular net supported by three bamboo sticks, mainly used by boys for catching smaller fish.

In addition to net fishing, the district’s fishing communities, including the Bhils, Kolis, Bhois, and Dhimars, employed various other techniques. The malai ken tilth, a funnel-shaped bamboo trap, was placed in rice fields and smaller streams, capturing fish indiscriminately. The Bhils, who lacked large drag nets, practiced a unique method of fastening millet stalks to a long rope, dragging it against the stream while men beat the water to drive fish into riverbank holes, where they were caught by hand. Another technique involved jumping into pools and frightening fish into corners, where they could be caught manually or forced onto land.

Despite official efforts to discourage it, poisoning water with branches of the sher (Euphorbia tirucalli) was reportedly still practiced by the Bhils and Kolis. Some villagers also trapped fish by draining shallow ponds. Recreational fishing was limited, with European settlers and some Muslims occasionally using rods and lines at locations such as the Palkhed reservoir and Igatpuri. Larger fish, such as marlin, were sometimes hunted with firearms.

Freshly caught fish were taken to local markets, where they were sold for 1 to 3 paise per pound, with payment accepted in both cash and grain. At the time, there were no restrictions on fishing practices, no closed seasons, and no regulations on net sizes or traps. Large quantities of juvenile fish were caught, but officials believed this had not yet led to a decline in fish populations.

The primary fishing communities were the Dhimars or Dhivars and the Bhois, who relied almost entirely on fishing for their livelihood. The Bhils and Kolis, on the other hand, primarily fished for household consumption rather than trade. Additionally, some Muslims participated in fishing, and villagers in riverbank settlements often engaged in small-scale fishing activities.