Principal Secretary to Animal Husbandry Dr Asgar Samoon today urged the concerned to take necessary steps for the promotion of sustainable livestock farming in the State as it will go a long way in strengthening the State economy, besides reducing the dependence on imports.The Secretary expressed these views here at an awareness workshop on “Poultry and Sheep Farming as an Emerging Industry” organized by National Apex Chamber.
The Secretary said that there are a host of problems associated with imported livestock ranging from hygiene and incidents of high use of antibiotics. He said that such problems can be avoided and livestock can be raised in a sustainable and eco-friendly way in Kashmir. He said that the sector has the benefit of having everything from raw material to consumer market, and efforts need to cash on this opportunity.He also spoke about the introduction of Poultry policy and said with its full implementation the poultry imports would be reduced by 80 percent.Asking the concerned to handheld youth for entrepreneurship in livestock farming sector, he said that such units will have readily available takers, as the Valley has high consumers of livestock products.He also directed the officials to tie up with private players who can share ideas to make our State self-sufficient and address the unemployment issue.The Secretary said that the department will also revive the wool rearing industry in the valley and work is on to set up modern sheep villages.Later on, the Secretary also laid the foundation stone of Directorate of Fisheries at TRC Nowgam Srinagar.