APD to infuse Rs 248.2 cr in Poultry Sector
*Project to create 420 enterprises, 4250 direct jobs in 5 yrs
Govind Sharma
JAMMU, Jan 13: To put the Poultry Sector of Jammu and Kashmir on the path of sustainability and self-reliance, Agriculture Production Department (APD) has approved a project under which it will infuse Rs 248.2 crore in five years in the Sector for development of all three verticals of broiler production, egg production and feed manufacture.
Official sources told Excelsior that the UT Government has played a key role in promoting the development of the Poultry Sector by implementing various initiatives and schemes to support farmers and encourage the growth of the industry. However, with the increasing demands, the sector has become dependent on imported poultry produce and raw material which has become a cause for concern and put the local poultry industry at a disadvantage.
“Year on year, such imports are increasing substantially and jobs are being lost at the same pace. Quality of such products is also uncertain due to long distance passage of the inputs like eggs, table birds, day old chicks and feed. To keep track of such articles, in terms of quality control, is all the more difficult,” they said.
Therefore, to make the Poultry Sector in J&K self-reliance, sources said, the APD has approved a “Roadmap for poultry development in J&K” under its mission for Holistic Development of Agriculture and Allied Sectors in the UT.
“Roadmap for poultry development in J&K” is one among the 29 projects, which have been approved by the J&K administration after being recommended by the UT Level Apex Committee for holistic development of Agriculture and Allied Sectors in UT of J&K.
As per sources, the project encompasses all the three verticals in the poultry industry including producing day-old broiler chicken to feed the broiler industry, establishing layer farms in intensive and free-range mode to meet the demands for eggs and boost quality feed manufacture through establishment of feed processing units.
“With the implementation of the Project, the Poultry Sector is going to see huge development in the form of 125 new composite broiler parent farms cum hatcheries with cumulative production of 5 crore broiler DOC annually. Egg production will be strengthened by creation of 200 farms each of 10000 layer capacity and rearing of 1 crore LIT (low input technology) birds in the backyard. The total output will be of 100 crore eggs including 60 crore free range eggs every year,” sources disclosed.
To boost availability of feed for these farms and generate local enterprise, sources shared, 35 modern feed manufacturing plants producing 85000 Metric Tons feed annually are also being created. Apart from this, the APD has implemented measures to increase the production of feed locally, including promoting the cultivation of maize and other feed crops under other projects.
In addition, they said, backyard and the free range poultry farming has also been covered under various incentives for which inputs are being provided through establishment of 66 Mother Units, each of 1000 parent stock. These Mother Units shall provide birds to more than 2000 free-range farms housing 500 birds each.
When contacted, Atal Dulloo, Financial Commissioner (Additi-onal Chief Secretary) APD, said, “All these interventions shall boost the gross output of the Poultry Sector in J&K from Rs 709 crore to Rs 1982 crore per year and ensure that the poultry industry is well-positioned for continued growth and development in the coming years”.
He said a total of 420 enterprises and 4250 direct jobs are also being created under the Project over the next five years.
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