SRINAGAR: – Minister for Animal, Sheep Husbandry and Fisheries Mr Abdul Ghani Kohli today said that the ultimate goal of the Animal Husbandry Department is to enhance the milk production in the State.
Winding up the discussion on demand of Grants for Animal & Sheep Husbandry and Fisheries Departments, Mr Kohli said that the Department has established vast network of veterinary centers and have also established modernized labs at Jammu and Srinagar for providing veterinary healthcare facility to the livestock and for genetic upgradation of the local breed besides providing medicines on subsidized rates.
The Minister said that during 2015-16 more than 40 lac vaccinations have has been carried out which has taken care of the livestock.
The Minister said that the milk production has increased to 24.00 lac metric tons during 2015-16 which was earlier recorded as 20.22 lac metric tons in 2012-13. He said that it was the efforts of the Department and intervention of various schemes that the production of milk has increased despite the decrease in cattle population.
The Minister attributed it to genetic up gradation of the local breed of cows. During 2015-16 around 8 lac artificial in-seminations were conducted on cows which helped in genetic upgradation of the breed which ultimately resulted in increase in milk production, he said.
The Minister said that there is lot of scope for further expanding the activities which can reduce the import of milk.
The Minister said that the Department will try to frame up some schemes which will have incentives for unemployed youth so that fresh investments in the sector are attracted.
Through the existing schemes more than 1800 units of 2 to 10 cows have been established during the last three years and these have been paid subsidy of Rs.8.71 cr through banks, he said.
Regarding Poultry the Minister said that the sector is one of the area which has lot of scope to be developed. The production in poultry meat within the State has increased from 431 lac kgs in 2007-08 to 640 lac kgs during 2015-16, he said. The Department has established infrastructure in various areas for increasing the production of poultry meat within the State.
He said that at present around 122 lac kgs of poultry birds are being imported but comparatively the local production is also on rise. While stressing on the need to establish hatcheries, the Minister said that efforts are on to establish atleast one modern hatchery in each District so that the availability of one day old chicks is made within the State.
He said that there is a huge demand of eggs in the State and as per the rough estimates only 32% of the demand is being met locally and the remaining is being met from outside the State. Once the farming activity improves the availability of eggs shall also increase. The Department is making efforts to further give boost to the sector. The local production has considerably increased but there is further scope for which efforts shall be made, he said.
About Sheep husbandry, the Minister said that the main focus is on increase in mutton production locally so that imports are reduced. The mutton production within the State during 2007-08 was 272.10 lac kgs and same has reached to 321 lac kgs during 2015-16 against total demand of 555 lac kgs. At present against the total estimated demand for mutton within the State 58% is being met locally and only 42% is being imported. The focus shall be to further reduce the imports.
The Minister said that there are presently some existing schemes under which the mini sheep farms are established and during the last three years 447 such units have been established in different areas of the State.
The Minister said that the state has around 15000 fishermen and who are able to produce 20000 metric tons of fish within the State of mostly carp. Through various schemes 952 carp units and 388 trout units have been established in private sector and the Department is providing necessary assistance for their development, he said adding that only 20% of the demand is being met through imports. The Department has established hatcheries and rearing units for trout for which certain areas of the State are environmentally suitable.
He said that the Department has generated revenue through all the three sectors and during 2015-16 the revenue realization has been made to the tune of Rs.12.76 cr which is through sale of fish, medicines etc.
Regarding various issues and demands raised by the members the Minister said that it has been decided to approach Centre for providing requisite funds for the development of sector for which DPR shall be prepared, based on area wise requirement.
Later, the House passed grants of Animal, Sheep Husbandry & Fisheries, for the year 2016-17, which were moved by the Minister, amounting to Rs 577.92 crore with voice vote
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