Dr.Banarsi Lal and Dr.Shahid Ahamad
Livestock is emerging an important sector in the economy of Jammu and Kashmir and plays an important role in the socio-economic development of the State. In Jammu and Kashmir about 80% of population lives in the rural people and about 60% of the state’s revenue is generated by the agriculture and animal husbandry sector. Dairying is a potential source of additional income for the rural people of the State. The contribution of dairying sector to the national income is invaluable. This sector provides insurance against crop failures. This sector helps in increasing the crop production by providing the drag power, organic manure and cash income on a regular basis. Although India ranked first in milk production but the productivity of milk in hilly areas is very less. Maximum milk is produced in the selected parts of the parts of the state. Lack of technological dairy information sources is one of the reasons of low milk production for the farmers of hilly areas.
Agriculture and allied sectors contribute about 38% to the State gross domestic product of which 11% is contributed by the livestock. The major occupation of the rural people is agriculture and livestock rearing and thus is the major source of income and employment. Dairy sector not only generates income and employment among the farmers but also supplements the varied nutritional requirements of the individual. Livestock rearing is an integral part of rural J&K. It has been observed that livestock population of livestock in Jammu and Kashmir (2011-12) has increased over the year 2009-10.Milk production in Jammu and Kashmir is steadily increasing from 1609.24 thousand MTs in 2010-11 to 1614.57 thousand MTs in 2011-12.One of the major bottlenecks in low production in dairy sector is Jammu and Kashmir’s diversified climate e.g. cold desert in Ladakh region and temperate climate in Kashmir region and humid sub-tropical climate in Jammu region. Small size of land holding (0.73ha) is another hurdle for limited milk production in the State as state does not produce much fodder production because of lack of modern technologies in small farms. In Jammu and Kashmir the number of animals per 1000 human beings are 882 while at national this number is only 457 as per livestock census2007.But even then the milk and milk production in the State is low.
India is the largest cattle producer in the world and has large animal diversity and is first in buffalo while second in goat production in the world.13 per cent of world’s cattle population and 57 per cent of world’s buffalo population is found in India. Buffaloes contribution towards the milk production in J&K is lesser (0.27%) as compared to the national average (1.84%).Buffaloes breeding programes can be taken in Jammu and Kashmir. Department of Animal Husbandry of J&K and SKUAST-Jammu and Kashmir are collaborately working to provide the frozen semen of pedigree bulls to the veterinary dispensaries. There is dire need of cross breed and Jersey bulls in the State to improve the cattle breed. The emphasis should be given on the use of advanced breeding tools to increase the breeding bulls for expansion of artificial expansion in the State. Clinical animal health services with capacity building for superspeciality and advanced medicinal interventions need to be developed. Animal diseases and parasites need to be managed according to the different agro-climatic zones in the state. Focus should be given on important diseases like foot and mouth disease, mastitis, tuberculosis, metabolic disorders etc. for the safety of animals. Imbalanced animal diet in dairy animals affects their production, reproduction and health. Area specific dairy mineral mixture should be given to the dairy farmers to fulfill the diet of dairy animals. The efforts for the improvement of breed of animals are wasted without proper nutrition. The annual fodder need of J&K is deficit by 60%.From the last one decade the area under fodder in the state is stagnant. Majority of livestock rearers in the state are small and landless farmers who have very limited sources of fodder. Feed and fodder are the main factors for the reduction of dairy development in the state. Fodder availability especially in the offseason is really a great problem for the dairy farmers. There is need to promote feed and fodder resources in the State. There is need to promote scientific techniques for hay and silage making. Training on scientific cultivation of fodder should be imparted to the farmers and improved/hybrid seed of different fodder crops should be timely provided to the dairy farmers. Cost-effective nutritious feed should be made by the researchers. Promotions of Urea Molasses Multinutrient Blocks (UMBB) in the state by the SKUAST-Jammu have shown excellent results for the production and reproduction in dairy sector. Research should made in conversion of agricultural products into cattle feed.
Animals contribute in climate change as they produce methane and carbon dioxide gases but changing climate is adversely affecting the livestock production and reproduction. There is need to reduce the adverse impact of climate change on the production and reproduction of animals and this is possible though the identification of proper feeds to the animals. Road connectivity in J&K is three times lesser than the national average. In hilly terrains still there are certain habitations which lack road connectivity. There is need to develop the infrastructure of dairy plants especially in the hilly areas so that milk collection can be increased. Also there is need to have bulk coolers, refrigeration systems and also to develop the organized markets in the rural areas which further can help in rural development. The focus should be given on small dairy farmers who lack availability of nutritious feed, timely institutional credits, fodder availability in off seasons of the year, timely quality veterinary care etc. Superior breeds of animals are not available in the rural areas. The rural areas can purchase the superior breeds of animals if institutional credit is provided to them. There is need to have proper linkage between the scientist, extension workers and farmers. The research in livestock production should be according to the socio-economic conditions of the farmers. There are open opportunities in dairy farming for the economically small dairy farmers in J&K. The major hindrances in dairy sector are animal diseases, lack of fodder and nutritious feed, lack of market access, technical guidelines etc. Attention should be given on these aspects. Dairy technologies should be made by the scientists according to the socio-economic, size of dairy farm, market approach of the farmers and also the agro-ecological conditions of the region. The cost of animal production should be reduced for the benefits of dairy farmers. In order to encourage the dairy sector in the state more milk societies should be established in J&K.
(The writers are: Dr.Banarsi Lal, Asstt. Professor and Dr. Shahid Ahamad, Assoc. Professor, KVK Reasi (Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology-Jammu).
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