SRINAGAR – At a time when white revolution is gaining momentum across India, Jammu and Kashmir Government is taking all possible measures to keep the pace— producing 70 lakh litres of milk per day, besides strengthening the public private partnerships.
Principal Secretary, Transport, Animal and Sheep Husbandry Departments, Dr Asgar Hassan Samoon today after conducting a day-long Public Grievance Camp in Srinagar revealed that Jammu and Kashmir Government with the help of farmers and dairy units was successful to produce 70 lakh litres of milk per day. He said Kashmir alone produces 40 lakh while as Jammu produces 30 lakh litres, respectively.
“White revolution is becoming popular and we are also marching on the path. We are doing our best to achieve the target and rope in thousands of successful farmers across Jammu and Kashmir,” Samoon said. “In Jammu and Kashmir thousands of farmers and budding entrepreneurs have been hugely benefited from the dairy farming and we are encouraging more youth to join the sector,” he said, adding “South Kashmir produces milk in bulk.”
While demand for dairy produce across the country is growing, the price of milk across Jammu and Kashmir is also picking up.
“There has been lot of challenges in this sector. We are working out on all the modalities and trying to prepare a roadmap to help the dairy farmers and other associated with this sector,” Samoon said.
The Principal Secretary informed that as per the 20th Livestock Census conducted in 2019, Jammu and Kashmir has a livestock population of 82 lakh. He said Milk Production as per ISS data 2018-19 is 2541 TMT. “For improving milk production and productivity in Jammu and Kashmir, the Department is looking at various interventions including genetic up-gradation of Cattle, Cattle Induction, Fodder Development, Milk Procurement and Processing and Health Cover and Risk Management,” he said.
Dr Samoon informed that Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India has agreed to distribute 15000 Dairy Units of two cows each as a special package for Jammu and Kashmir under the Dairy Entrepreneurship Development Scheme (DEDS) as a beneficiary oriented scheme financed by National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) through commercial banks.
Dr Samoon said that in order to make milk production profitable for farmers, there was need for establishing Cooperatives to supply it directly to consumers.
“It is easy to produce milk in the Kashmir’s green land, but very difficult to find market. We are working out all the modalities to find a suitable market for the farmers and dairy unit holders,” he said.
He said that dairy-farming has a potential to generate jobs for thousands of unemployed youth in Jammu and Kashmir. “Government’s priority is to promote local milk-processing units,” he said.
Dr Samoon informed that the Milk Production Expansion Plan proposal of the Jammu and Kashmir Milk producers Cooperative Limited (JKMPCL) for raising capacity of JKMPCL from 50,000 LPD of milk production to 2.5 Lakh LPD in the next three years was also discussed during the meeting.
He said that Jammu and Kashmir Government was focused to review the poultry and dairy sector, informing that the modalities for baseline survey by the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) and implementation of the Special Package for dairy development projects have been recently reviewed threadbare.
‘Steps afoot to bring Budgam on top in milk production’
Stating that the District Budgam has high scope for the dairy farming, the District Development Commissioner (DDC), Budgam Tariq Hussain Ganaie today said that steps are afoot to bring Budgam on top in milk production across Union Territory of J&K.
The DDC said this on the sidelines of the High Breed HF Cow distribution function held, here today. Among others the function was attended by Chief Animal Husbandary Officer, Budgam, Dr Mushtaq Ahmad, Chief Agriculture Officer, Fayaz Ahmad Keen, Nodal Officer Cow Distribution Committee, Dr Khurshid Ahmad and other concerned.
While distributing high breed cows among beneficiaries of Budgam block, the DDC said that selection of Budgam Block under Climate Change Resilient programme is a big achievement. Under the program 210 cross breed HF cows will be given on 50 percent subsidy to beneficiaries to boost milk production in the district.
The DDC said that the district Budgam which has high scope for dairy farming has witnessed manifold increase in milk production to past few years. He said that joint efforts by allied departments including Agriculture and Animal Husbandry will encourage people to take up dairy farming to boost the milk production in the area.
He added that youth instead of hankering after government jobs must opt for dairy farming to become self-reliant and to be job providers rather than job seekers.
Earlier CAO Budgam said that the department has adopted 1250 beneficiaries under Climate Change Resilient Sustainable Agriculture programme from 2017- 2018 who are being provided all assistance regarding integrated farming, poultry, dairy and seeds.
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