Saying that the focus of the present government is to increase the livestock, dairy and poultry products to make the state self-sufficient, Minister for Animal and Sheep Husbandry and Science and Informational Technology, Sajad Gani Lone said that it would go a long way in catering the need of population of the state and create more and more employment avenues in the private sector.The Minister was interacting with representatives of Jammu and Kashmir Veterinary Doctors Association, here today.The Minister said that it is essential for the Department to extend a helping hand to the marginal farmers and nomads by way of providing financial and professional assistance for achieving tangible results in the field. He said that the state has huge potential in animal and sheep husbandry sector and stressed the need for exploiting it in better way so that self-sufficiency is achieved in the sector. He also called for putting in place every effort for increasing the production of livestock, poultry and dairy products by establishing more and more poultry and hatcheries.
The Minister said that Rajasthan has 75 per cent desert area but the State is large producer of meat and poultry products. He also referred to similarities climates of Switzerland with Kashmir, saying that Switzerland is a world class meat exporter as compared to Kashmir.The Minister urged upon the concerned to work with missionary zeal to achieve the targets fixed in full. The association presented a charter of demands, for which the Minister assured that their demands would be looked into and redressed.Secretary, Animal and Sheep Husbandr Department, Satesh Nehru, besides representatives of the Association ware also present on the occasion.