JAMMU :Minister of State for Forest, Environment, Animal and Sheep Husbandry, Cooperative and Fisheries, Mir Zahoor Ahmad, on Saturday advocated optimum utilization of latest technological interventions to boost production of quality livestock in the state.
“The advanced techniques in the sector would not only enhance the existing livestock production but will encourage the people to vigorously adopt this alluring venture for their livelihood having vast scope in our state”, the Minister maintained. He also emphasized the need of creating mass awareness among the farmers about the scope and benefits of the livestock industry for raising their socio-economic standards besides catering to state’s livestock requirement to the fullest.
The Minister was interacting with officers during inspection of various offices in Jammu including Directorate of Sheep Husbandry, Joint Director Poultry and Poultry Development Office.
Taking stock of functioning of poultry units, he was informed that more than 2.21 lakh Low Input Technology (LIT) Day Old Chicken (DOC) were produced in Poultry Farm Belicharana during the current year till date. These DOCs were supplied to different districts of Jammu division for further rearing and are then distributed among the people. Besides, presently 6816 LIT parent stock of Chabra and Nacked neck breed are being maintained at Belicharana Farm whose eggs are further used in the hatchery.
During his visit to Sheep Husbandry Office, the Minister was apprised of the problems being faced by the authorities which inter alia include deficiency of funds under drugs and vaccines, breed improvement to meet the requirement of mutton in the state and transfer of departmental lands of Sheep Husbandry to other departments.
The Minister assured them that their issues would be looked into for early redressal.
The Minister asked the officers to work in tandem with public representatives to bring further improvement in functioning of the department.
He said there is immense scope for income generation and employment opportunities in the sectors like dairy, poultry, sheep and fishery and asked the departments to raise massive awareness among the people about the schemes launched by the Centre and State Governments. He said the unemployed educated youth is showing keen interest in setting up of their own units in these sectors but need of the hour is to educate them about the latest techniques.
Among others, Director AH Jammu Dr. S. K. Abrol, Director Sheep Husbandry Jammu Dr. Sant Ram and other senior officers of both the departments were present on the occasion.
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