Director, Animal Husbandry Department, Jammu, Dr Shubhra Sharma presided over a series of Awareness Camps during her 2- day visit to Ramban district. Speaking at various camps, Dr. Shubhra exhorted the farmers to avail the benefit of Integrated Dairy Development Scheme (IDDS) to establish Dairy units to enhance the milk production.
She said that JKMPCL will provide the facilities especially for collection of milk, buying subsidized milk vans and opening Milk ATMs in Ramban. She impressed upon the participants to focus on improving the milk output of the district and strengthening the poultry sector by availing the benefits of the farmer friendly schemes as IDDS, IPDP, Feed and Fodder and HADP.
Responding to the demands of locals, the Director assured that the demand relating to establishment of new Veterinary Centres and availability of medicines would be looked into. At the outset, CAHO, Dr. Suhail apprised Dr Shubhra of achievements and progress of the department registered in various sectors and schemes.
During the Awareness Camps organized at Chief Animal Husbandry Officer (CAHO), office Kowbagh, village Gaam and Chamalwas, where a team led by CAHO, Dr. Suhail Jan Kawoosa comprising Dr. Nadeem Ahmed, Extension Officer, Extension & Publicity Wing, Directorate of Animal Husbandry, Jammu and, Managing Director, JK Milk Producers' Cooperative Ltd. (JKMPCL) Chirag Bhensdadia sensitized and motivated the farmers about various government sponsored schemes and the subsidized facilities being provided by the Department.
Managing Director, JKMPCL informed that as many as 1,50,000 litre milk is collected from 60,000 persons by the JKMPCL daily and about Rs.8 crore to Rs.9 crore is distributed among them daily across UT of J&K.
An amount of Rs.280 crore was paid to these milk producers last year he said and added that JKMPCL bought buffallo milk at the rate of one percent milk fat for Rs.8.6 that is maximum at the rate of Rs. 68 per litre of buffalo milk in J&K which is highest price in India.
At Kowbagh, as many as 25 Pashu Sakhies were given free kits which they will use to record milk production and balanced diet of cattle and bovines in their respective villages for which they were already trained.
Many a progressive farmers also shared their experiences as beneficiaries of government sponsored schemes, local issues and demands. Some of them demanded Milk Van and establishment of a Milk ATM in their respective areas.
At village Gaam, the villagers demanded holding of more Awareness Camps in remote hamlets and sanctioning of a Veterinary Centre in Gaam. The villagers were given free Feed Supplements and Deworming Medicines there.