Jammu, Jan 18: Jammu and Kashmir will produce around 16,000 jobs and 600 enterprises in the next five years in the dairy sector thus securing livelihood and assuring employability avenues for the youth. The J&K government has proposed an amount of over Rs 350 crore in the next five years for the Development of the dairy sector across Jammu and Kashmir.
The Jammu and Kashmir administration has recently approved a project to increase milk production in the region by a significant 70 percent within the next five years.
According to the approved document among the strategies include securing livelihood through enhanced Jobs and income. Livestock sector projects were cleared by the Apex Committee led by DrManglaRai in Dairy Development in J&K.
Under the able guidance of the Additional Chief Secretary, Agriculture Production Department, AtalDulloo says that these projects show the government’s commitment towards improving the livelihoods of the people living in Jammu and Kashmir.
Dairy development is a crucial aspect of the region’s economy, as well as a vital source of nutrition for its residents. Livestock husbandry of which Dairy is the biggest component besides playing a pivotal role in sustaining the agriculture income of farmers acts as a growth engine for agriculture and allied sectors in J&K.
AtalDulloo remarked that J&K can be a model for dairy development in the entire country by milking farm policy reforms. The ACS said that dairying contributes positively and significantly to the income and employment of rural areas.
At present, the annual milk production in Jammu and Kashmir is 26 Lakh Metric Tons (LMT), but according to the project, the Jammu and Kashmir administration has set a target to increase this figure to 44 LMT. This increase in milk production is expected to be achieved through a range of measures, including the expansion of breeding coverage and increasing per-animal productivity.
One of the key elements of the project is to increase per-animal productivity from 2400 litres to 4300 liters, which is a significant increase. This will be achieved through a range of interventions, including the expansion of Artificial Insemination (AI) centres from 1389 to 2189. This increase in AI centers will be carried out through the involvement of 800 private AI workers or MAITRIs.
In addition to this, the government will establish a Murrah buffalo breeding farm and double the output from semen stations, with the aim of producing 19 lac doses annually.
Dairy Development in J&K is one among the 29 projects, which were approved by the Jammu and Kashmir administration after being recommended by the UT Level Apex Committee for holistic development of Agriculture and Allied Sectors in UT of J&K.
Under this project the government also plans to set up 400 satellite heifer-rearing units, which will help to improve the quality of new genetic material and enhance milk production in the region. This is expected to uplift the dairy industry in the union territory and make Jammu and Kashmir one of the leading milk-producing regions in the country.