To check the entry of dressed chicken in the state, Animal Husbandry department has decided to setup two dedicated checking centers at Lakhanpur and Lower Munda.The direction to setup these check-posts was passed by Principal Secretary Animal, Sheep, Fisheries and Transport Department Dr Asgar Samoon during a meeting of officers and representatives of poultry entrepreneurs.The meeting was attended by Director Animal Husbandry M Y Chaploo, Director Fisheries P N Pandita, Joint Directors, District officers and other officials of Animal, fisheries and sheep department of all districts of Kashmir.Taking strong note of reports of stale chicken being supplied in the markets of the state from outside, Dr Samoon directed for setting up a committee to supervise the action against the unscrupulous elements responsible for their supply. “There is no clarity about the method of slaughter and the conditions they are being slaughtered. There are reports that these dressed chickens are smuggled here in the fish boxes in unhygienic conditions. Public health is important for us and will make sure that whether fish, chicken or animal meat is supplied should be of good and hygienic quality”.He also said that farm rates of chicken will be notified afresh as and will be accordingly communicated to CAPD. He directed for the formation of a committee under the Chairmanship of Joint Director Poultry.To inspect the dressing plants which have been established in the valley and who under the pretext of toll tax exception sell the birds directly in the live market without putting these to slaughter, Dr Samoon asked the officials to setup a committee headed by Joint Director Poutry Dr Riyaz Ahmed and Dr Altaf Geelani and Dr Javid Bhat as members to arrest the menace.
In a first of its kind initiative in Animal and Sheep Husbandry Department, Dr Samoon sought list of doables for the month of November and a timeline for each activity to be finished under the jurisdiction of the officers.During the meeting with fisheries department officials, he sought details about the assistance being provided to the local fishermen and fish entrepreneurs in their areas of jurisdiction. He also asked the officers to explore possibilities of setting up fish markets in all the areas of Kashmir as market support to local fishermen and young entrepreneurs besides providing cycles and load carriers to them.Meanwhile, he handed over a load carrier to an unemployed youth from fishermen community and a Bank cheque of Rs 2 lakh to a woman for building her house under a central sponsored scheme meant for the community.Highlighting the potential of livestock sector in the state, Dr Samoon said the sector if tapped properly has the potential to provide employment to thousands of youth besides bringing down import bill of the state.Expressing his satisfaction over the functioning of the department, the Principal Secretary said that interest shown by the young entrepreneurs to set up their units of livestock is encouraging in various districts of the state.He said that such steps ensure that the initiatives taken by the department are bearing the fruitful results.He also laid stress on developing infrastructure for the departments so that the vision envisaged for the growth of the livestock sector in the state is realized.Stressing on the punctuality in duties, he directed the officers to ensure that besides maintaining the regularity, they should be punctual for their work also.