Minister of State for Forest, Animal, Sheep Husbandry, Fisheries and Cooperative, Mir Zahoor Ahmad today visited Central Cattle Breeding, Research Farm & Poultry Farm Balicharana and took stock of functioning of these units. He also inspected Training Centre there.At the Cattle Farm, Mir Zahoor asked the Management of the Farm to adopt modern cross breeding techniques to introduce high milching breeds of Buffalos and cows for the benefit of the farmers.The Minister inspected Poultry Feed mill, Poultry Farms and checked the quality of feed. He issued on the spot instructions to increase the quantity of Day old Chicks (DOC) to provide these to the poor farming community under Backyard Poultry Scheme.While inspecting Training Centre, the Minister asked for ensuring cleanliness in and around the Centre.The Management of the Training Centre informed the Minister that there are presently 132 newly recruited Veterinary Pharmacists in roll and the departmental training will be provided to them for one year after that they will be posted against the vacancies in different parts of the state.
Interacting with the trainees, the Minister asked the trainees to take full advantage of the training and gain skills to serve farmers efficiently. Mir Zahoor said that animal and sheep husbandry are key sectors of State’s economy and the Government headed by the Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti is committed to boost it. He said several flagship programmes have been launched to promote the cattle and sheep farming on modern lines. “It is our collective responsibility to ensure that the benefits of the schemes reach to maximum number of farmers well in time” he directed.Mir Zahoor also called for encouraging the educated Youth to take up dairy and cattle farming to earn their livelihood.The Minister also inspected Poultry Naturist Lab at the farm and took stock of its activities. It was informed that tests for crude protein, nitrogen contents moisture, crude fibber, acid insoluble ASH are conducted in the lab.The Management of the Lab projected difficulties being faced by them which include lack of lab equipment. The Minister asked them to submit a comprehensive proposal in this regard.Earlier, the Minister chaired a meeting to review the progress achieved under various Animal Husbandry schemes in Jammu division.It was informed that Jammu division has a per capita availability of 430 ml milk which is above the national average of 337 ml per person per day.
Expressing satisfaction over the performance of the Department, the Minister exhorted upon the officers to maintain the momentum in milk production and provide veterinary services in remote and inaccessible areas. He also instructed them to work with missionary zeal to achieve self-sufficiency in table eggs and poultry meat for which the State has to depend upon imports.It was given out in the meeting that 15.24 lakh animals were treated, 11615 Backyard Poultry Units established, 1085 Awareness Camps &Kissan conferences organized across the division this year. It was further informed that 14.46 quintals of poultry meat was sold in Jammu Division ending October, 2017. It was also given out in the meeting that 2.62 Lakh eggs were produced at Government Farms, 5.85 lakh were produced at Private Farms, while department also produced 1.35 Lakh Day old Chicks. It was also informed that 17.11 Lakh cases of cattle and 86.93 Lakh poultry were treated till ending October.About the veterinary services, it was informed that the department runs 117 Veterinary Centres across the division. The Minister asked the concerned to refer both Gazetted and Non Gazetted vacant posts to the recruitment agencies to fill the gap. He also asked them to conduct Departmental Promotion Committee meetings.Detailed discussions were also held on fund allocation for Poultry Villages under Constituency Development Fund (CDF) and the Minister assured the Department that the matter would be taken up with the respective authorities.Director Animal Husbandry Jammu and other Senior Officers accompanied the Minister during his visit.