Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 20: Minister for Animal and Sheep Husbandry and Fisheries, Abdul Ghani Kohli today said the department is in the process of developing necessary framework for the growth of these key sectors to uplift the rural economy in the State.
Winding up the discussion on demand of grants for Animal, Sheep Husbandry and Fisheries departments, the Minister said in order to give boost to the activities of these sectors, the department is in the process of introducing various new initiatives which are aimed at making these sectors viable and profitable.
Special incentive based schemes are also being framed and introduced for unemployed youth as well as people already employed in these sectors and measures to invite fresh investment are also being undertaken, the Minister said. He added that focused attention is being given to increase internal production of milk, poultry, mutton and fish in the State to meet the local demand thereby reducing the imports.
The Minister said for development and growth of Animal Husbandry sectors, the department has undertaken many initiatives including formulating a people-friendly grazing policy in consultation with Forest Department so that the breeders can have access to the pastures without hassles. He said the other initiatives include establishing vast network of veterinary centers, modernized labs at Jammu and Srinagar besides providing medicines on subsidized rates.
Kohli said the Government has also taken initiatives to provide relief to the cattle owners by Insuring Animals and has been projected under National Livestock Mission which is under consideration of Government of India.
In the Poultry sector, the department is envisaging some new methods and taking steps to declare the poultry farming activity an industry so that it gets the incentives, the Minister said.
Enumerating on the measures undertaken to increase the production of poultry meat within the State, the Minister said that the department has established special infrastructure in various areas which has resulted in increased local production, adding that more rearing space is being created with the NABARD assistance and under Back Yard Poultry Sector.
Besides, Government of India has also sanctioned a scheme called Blue Revolution under which an amount of Rs 13 crore has been sanctioned by the Centre which will give further boost to the production of fish in the State, the Minister added.
Later, the House passed the grants of Animal, Sheep Husbandry and Fisheries Departments, for the year 2017-18, which were moved by the Minister, amounting to Rs 53321.29 lakh and 8503.37 lakh respectively with voice vote.
Earlier, while initiating the discussion, Legislator, Choudhary Qamar Hussain urged the Government for providing sufficient funds under animal and sheep husbandry sectors and asked the Government to take necessary measures for providing adequate medicinal facilities for the treatment of live stock and also ensure requisite infrastructure for upgrading the veterinary health services.
Aijaz Ahmad Khan urged the Government for giving special focus on animal and sheep sectors. He said these sectors are the back bone of the economy of the rural people.
Kuldeep Raj urged the Government for providing requisite infrastructure for upgrading the veterinary health services.
M Y Tarigami said concrete steps should be taken to encourage the unemployed youth to establish poultry, dairy units to earn livelihood as well as to compensate and reduce the import of livestock products.
Mohammad Akbar Lone said there is scope for rearing live stock in Sonawari Constituency and demanded for construction of Shelter Sheds in district Bandipora.
Shah Mohammad Tantray stressed for comprehensive policy for livestock production. He said special measures need to be taken for increasing the livestock productivity as the Poonch-Rajouri area is bestowed with all the requisite natural resources.
Vikar Rasool Wani demanded for creation of Assistant Veterinary Office at Banihal and also urged for creation of animal and sheep husbandry centres.
Hakeem Mohammad Yaseen Shah said special measures need to be taken for increasing mutton production in the State.
Daleep Singh Parihar urged the Government for providing compensation to those whose livestock is lost due to grazing and predation by wildlife animals. He also called for the re-commissioning of NNMP scheme, which used to provide livestock like sheep to the farmers and also fast provision of subsidy
Mubarak Gul demanded for establishment of Fish market in his area on the already identified land at Eidgah and also establishment of aquarium at Srinagar.
Abdul Rahim Rather demanded that in his constituency, there is lot of scope for exploring different areas for animal, sheep and fisheries sectors.
G M Saroori said a compressive policy should be adopted to explore various sectors under this department. He asked the Government to explain the status of Hatcheries at village Sigdi in Inderwal constituency of the District Kisthwar.
Ravinder Raina demanded that the local breeds of the cow and other animals should be explored and people should be attracted to contribute to this sector.
Devinder Singh Rana said that this is a very vital department of the Government which is connected at the grassroots. He said the per capita income coming from this department should be reviewed and Government must focus on various initiatives to revamp this department.
Usman Abdul Majeed advocated for taking measures for strengthening the Animal and Sheep Husbandry Departments as he said these sectors are back bone of rural economy. He also asked for implementation of different schemes launched by the Government under this Department.
Altaf Ahmad Wani called the Department as a “most vital department” which is acting as a bridge between people and the Government. He also said that Government should work for wooing tourists to the state, especially in Pahalgam constituency.
Aijaz Ahmad Mir spoke in detail about wooing international anglers to the Kashmir valley, saying that “Kashmir is known as anglers paradise.”
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