ANIMAL HUSBANDRY INFORMATION

PROCESSING AND VALUE ADDITION

Byproducts

Hides and skins are the basic raw materials for the leather industry, which originate from livestock management. There was an upsurge in the number of bovine animals and goats and kids during 1990-2005, while population of sheep and lambs is on decline. Developing countries accounted for around 78% of the total population of bovine animals and 93% of world population of goats and kids in 2005.

Global scenarios

World production of raw hides and skins was nearly 7 million metric tonnes in 2004, of which production of bovine hides and skins alone accounted for 90%. Developing countries are the major producers of raw hides and skins. China played a significant role in turning developing countries as the major source of global imports of raw hides and skins.

World raw hide and skin production

Indian scenario

With about 15% of the world livestock population, India accounted for only 8% of the leather production in 2002. The Indian leather industry consists of 42,000 small-scale industry (SSI) units, which account for 75% of the total production. Nearly, 2.5 million people earn their livelihood from this sector. A survey by Central Leather Research Institute (CLRI) estimated that about 1,600 tanneries were present in India in 2000. The concentration of tanning industries is mainly in Tamil Nadu, with a share of 52%. Other states where tanning industry is concentrated include West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh. Small-scale sector accounts for large processing capacity ranging from 70-87% for different leather products.

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Last updated: 1-3-2007