Principal Secretary Animal Husbandry, Sheep Husbandry and Fisheries Department, Navin K Choudhary, today e-launched Milk Village at Jerri Panchayat of Pouni block.Block Development Council Chairman, Pouni, Pawan Sharma, District Development Council Member, Pouni, Reeta Sharma besides officers and locals were present on the occasion.Principal Secretary lauded launch of the milk village terming it as a major economic reform by the locals. “The milk village, which houses 73 individual dairy units with total 370 cows, would give financial security to local farmers”, he added.Navin Choudhary said that establishment of the milk village and its eventual success would attract many others to launch similar units in their larger interest. “Timely support and subsidies by government agencies has immensely helped farmers in establishing such self employment ventures to earn their livelihood with dignity” he maintained.
Principal Secretary called for increasing the average size of a dairy unit besides asking dairy farmers to form their Farmer Producer Organizations which can transform their lives towards a bright future. He also asked the Animal Husbandry department to provide a refrigerated van to these farmers on 50 percent subsidy.Principal Secretary exhorted upon the farmers to set up a milk chilling plant and brand their milk and milk products for better marketing. He also asked them to work hard towards further increasing their milk production besides incorporating milk processing and value addition to increase profitability.He highlighted the scope and potential in mushroom growing, horticulture, sericulture and other lucrative village industries and called upon women farmers to participate in such businesses.Director Animal Husbandry Jammu, Dr Sagar D Doifode among district officers, PRI members and large number of locals were also present on the occasion.