Minister of State for Forests, PHE, Irrigation, Flood Control, Animal, Sheep Husbandry, Fisheries and Cooperatives, Mir Zahoor Ahmad today visited Sheep Breeding and Research Farm, Reasi and took stock of its activities besides inspecting the Farm.On the spot, the Minister issued instructions to the concerned authorities for maintaining of hygiene and cleanliness in and around the Farm which he said will prove beneficial for healthy life of livestock available in the Farm as well as the employees working there. Saying that the Doctor’s job is similar to worship, minister said it is the responsibility upon them to work with utmost dedication, honesty and punctuality.The Management of the Farm apprised the Minister that the Farm is oldest Sheep Farm in the State and is spread over 5563 kanals and 06 marlas. He was also informed that there are presently 1420 sheep available in the Farm and that 150 sheep were distributed to Panthal Sheep Farm during the current fiscal so far.
The Minister stressed for face-lifting and renovation of existing structures available in the Farm and instructed the concerned for up-gradation and macdamization of 2 Kms length link road of the Farm.Interacting with the sheep and goat breeders at different places, Mir Zahoor said that animal and sheep sectors have been tagged as the priority sectors by the present Government headed by the Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and in this regard focused attention is being laid on providing infrastructure at the door steps of people living in remote and far-flung areas and make it a profitable activity.He said rearing of livestock is a traditional activity of the people of the State adding that it is need of the hour to boost it on modern and scientific lines. He said in this regard various intervention schemes have been launched, while new technologies are being introduced to increase the livestock to attain self-sufficiency in dairy, mutton and milk products in the State which are presently imported from outside. He asked the farmers to take advantage of the Centrally Sponsored and State Sector schemes launched for increasing their productivity and better results.
Responding to the incident of death of some sheep in Mohare area, the Minister directed the Director Sheep Husbandry Jammu to send a team of Doctors immediately to Mohare area and investigate the cause of death of some sheep there and submit a detailed report in this regard.Senior Officers of Various Departments including Director Sheep Husbandry Jammu, K K Sharma, Joint Director Sanjeev Kumar were accompanied the Minister during his tour.