Minister of State for Forest, Environment, Animal, Sheep Husbandry, Fisheries and Cooperative, Mir Zahoor Ahmad today convened a review meeting and discussed the pace of progress of works taken up by the Animal, Sheep and Fisheries Departments under Prime Minister’s Development Package (PMDP) under the Scheme “Permanent Restoration of Damaged Infrastructure”.

 The Minister stressed upon the officers to prepare a comprehensive plan for establishing of Sheep and Dairy Units in the State. He directed officers that the project report should be on modern lines and every kind of breed should be available in every Dairy Farm.

 It was informed in the meeting that out of Rs 5.65 crore, Rs 3.55 crore has been incurred on different works including repair and renovation of infrastructure damaged due to 2014-floods by the Animal, Sheep and Fisheries Departments under PMDP during 2016-2017.

It was informed that Rs 39.78 lakh were spent on various works by Animal Husbandry Jammu, Rs1.15 crore by Animal Husbandry Kashmir while as 39.128 lakh by Sheep Husbandry Jammu and Rs 1.16 crore by Sheep Husbandry Kashmir. It was further informed in the meeting that Rs 2 lakh has been incurred by Sheep Products Development Board while as Rs 42.84 lakh have been spent by Fisheries Department on various developmental works damaged due to flood-2014.

Giving a detailed pace of progress of different works by the Sheep Husbandry Department Kashmir through power point presentation briefed the meeting that there is 17.04 Lakh numbers of total sheep and 3.94 lakh goat population in Kashmir Division. It was also given out in the meeting that there is 1.09 crore kgs mutton production and 31.21 lakh kgs of wool production.

Detailed discussions were also held on the funds released under SDRF 2014-15 for purchase of medicines. It was given out that the Sheep Department procured medicine and drugs of importance worth Rs 75 lakh under SDRF.

It was informed in the meeting that a proposal plan of Rs 7.75 crore under Special Central Assistance to Tribal Sub Plan has been prepared last year. This include, Rs 5.60 crore for establishment of Shelter Sheds along migratory routes, Rs 55 lakh for establishment of mobile pre fabricated huts at highland pasture, Rs 25 lakh for creation of veterinary hospital, Rs 57 lakh for provision for health care facilities, Rs 24 lakh for procurement of ambulances, Rs 50 lakh for provision of logistic facilities and Rs 4 lakh for awareness and breeders orientation camps.

The Minister said it is the good proposal adding that on sanctioning of this project it will help in increasing the mutton production in the State.

Taking stock of Fisheries sector, it was apprised that under Blue Revolutionary Scheme, various welfare measures have been taken for uplift of the fishermen. It was informed in the meeting that under the scheme, 1200 cycles with modern facilities and 20 Auto Rickshaws are being distributed among the registered fishermen of the State on transparent manner during the current year. Under Housing and Welfare scheme, the Department is providing financial assistance to 130 fishermen who have not house of its own or residing in a kacha houses.

Addressing the meeting, the Minister said that the State of Jammu and Kashmir has a huge potential of fish and sheep farming, besides live stock rearing but need is to provide technical knowhow to the farmers. He said these key sectors is to improve the socio-economic conditions of the weaker sections of the society.

The Minister directed the concerned to work with utmost dedication and complete all works and utilize the released funds under MPDP in full and judiciously.  

Among others, Head of the Departments of Animal, Sheep Husbandry and Fisheries were present in the meeting.

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