With an aim to provide employment opportunities and skill development to local youth, the Deputy Commissioner (DC) Baramulla, Dr Syed Sehrish Asgar today distributed sheep shearing units including gensets, grinders and other equipments among various beneficiaries under Integrated Sheep Development Scheme (ISDS).
A total of 05 progressive farmers have been provided assistance of equipment worth Rs. 1.05 lacs out of 13 target unit beneficiaries.After distributing the necessary equipment, Dr Sehrish said that sheep breeding farms are emerging as an important economic activity and several people are using the opportunity for generating livelihood and providing employment to others.
Elucidating further, the DC said that the government has its endeavor to provide employment opportunities and skill development to local youth by providing assistance and training to the unemployed youth in establishing their own shearing units under ISDS.
The DC further said that the UT of Jammu and Kashmir is a net importer of meat and as such there is a lot of scope for expansion of sheep rearing. She said in addition to meat, the wool generated is also in high demand and rearers can fetch good prices in the market.
Dr Sehrish asserted that the district has abundant natural resources including grazing grounds and water supply and has a capacity of bearing many more breeders.Meanwhile, the DC affirmed that promoting sheep breeding farms will definitely help in value addition, better price to wool growers and quality raw material to the Handloom sector.
She also urged youth to take part in the field and earn their livelihood by contributing to boost the local economy in the district.Additional District Development Commissioner Baramulla, Aijaz Abdullah Saraf; Joint Director Planning, M.Y. Rather and other concerned officers were present on the occasion.