Directorate of Animal Husbandry sanctioned 114 dairy units in block Nagri of Kathua district today and took a new initiative to establish a Milk village which aims at boosting milk production and milk processing industry in the area.The initiative was e- inaugurated by Navin Kumar Choudhary, Principal Secretary Animal/Sheep Husbandry and Fisheries Department and attended in Nagri by Director Animal Husbandry Jammu, Dr Sagar Doifode and DC Kathua Rahul Yadav and other officials and public Representatives. During the event the approval letters for establishment of 114 dairy units were distributed among the beneficiaries.While addressing the occasion, Principal Secretary said that in tune with the Government’s pro-farmer measures, Animal Husbandry Department has initiated a number of schemes/programmes for boosting the milk production to benefit the farmers as well as to turn Jammu and Kashmir into milk-surplus region.During the programme there was a demand from the PRIs that a mobile Veterinary Ambulance fully equipped with all the requisite facilities shall be provided in the Block Nagri that would cater to the needs of the livestock keepers by ensuring doorstep treatment of ailing animals. which was readily accepted by the concerned authorities.Director Animal Husbandry Jammu Dr Sagar D. Doifode while addressing the occasion said that in order to achieve the goal of doubling of farmers income relying solely upon agriculture won’t help and options in other allied sectors like Dairy and poultry should also be looked into.
He further added that apart from raw milk sale, a dairy farmer should also go for processing and value addition of its produce for which the department is always ready to provide the required support.He further said that as per the directions of Lieutenant Governor, Dairy Cooperative societies shall be set up with active support from the department of Cooperatives. Such societies shall act as medium of socio-economic development of farmers, unorganized sector workers, women and deprived sections. Starting on a pilot basis a Dairy cooperative society shall be established in the designated Milk Village. Moreover Milk-Chilling plants in the region shall be set up so that the dairy cooperatives can function in a more robust manner.District Development Commissioner Kathua Rahul Yadav while speaking on the occasion enlightened the gathering about the benefits of cooperatives as an indicator of self-reliance .He also assured the department of Animal Husbandry of every sort of help in the implementation of welfare programmes in the district. Later the Director Animal Husbandry, accompanied by the Revenue authorities of the district administration Kathua also visited the various proposed sites for the finalization of venue for holding Pashudhan Melas in the near future.District Development Council Member Nagri, Block Development Council Chairman Nagri, Municipal Committee Nagri President, PRI’s Deputy Registrar Cooperatives Kathua, Officers and staff from Animal Husbandry Department and Cooperatives Department besides large number of farmers were also present on the occasion.