14. Sheep and goats were sold throughout the year with the volume of sales varying in opposite direction to the seasonal availability of food grain from farmers' own production. For example, during the period immediately following harvest (October to January), only 15% of the total sales was made. During the inter-season (February to May), a period when food grains were reasonably available, 32% of total small ruminant sales was made, while during the most critical period of food shortage (June to September), 53% of the sales was recorded. Cattle sales followed a similar pattern. In this case also most sales were made between June and September but cattle prices were also at their peak during this period.
15. During the survey year, which was a normal one with a normal harvest, 37% and 19% of the sample households sold smallstock and cattle respectively. In poor crop years these percentage figures are likely to be higher. Livestock, particularly smallstock, generally serve as an important insurance mechanism through which smallholder mixed farmers readily liquidate these assets in poor crop years to obtain cash for food grain purchases.
