BANDIPORA: Sheep Husbandry Department Bandipora organised a one-day awareness camp for sheep unit holders and community graziers at SDO, office, Kunan. The camp was presided by District Sheep Husbandry Officer Bandipora Dr. Showkat Ahmad and witnessed the participation of beneficiaries selected under different income generation schemes during the current fiscal & most cooperative chopans in the district.
DSHO Bandipore Dr Showkat Ahmad while welcoming the participants expressed his sincere gratitude to DDC member, Arin for attending the camp as guest of honour. He gave detailed light on different sheep development programmes of the department. He exhorted the selected beneficiaries to maintain a close liason with the field functionaries of the department for timely prophylactic health cover of their animals at their doorsteps.
He said that the department has initiated a massive awareness campaign across the district to sensitize the aspiring youth who intend to establish their own sheep farming ventures. He said that UT administration has recently cleared 29 prestigious projects under agriculture holistic development programme which will change the landscape of agriculture & allied sector in the UT and will prove a game changer. He impressed upon the youth to come forward and become partners in efforts to achieve self sufficiency in mutton and wool production.
DDC Arin, Gh Mohi ud din expressed his satisfaction about the working of sheep husbandry department in the district. He said the department has set up new benchmark in public service delivery in the district. He said the department always takes in confidence public representatives while distributing benefits among the farmers.
SDO Bandipora Dr Shabir Ahmad khan exhorted the participants to insure their livestock on subsidized rates under NLM scheme. He said the artificial insemination technique in goats has been standardized at Goat farm Arin, Bandipora and the service is available for transfer to the farmers flock for genetic upgradation.
SDO, Hajin Dr Nuzhat wali said the livestock healthcare facilities have been upgraded in the district and the field staff has been given explicit directions to provide quality health cover to the farmers at their doorsteps to ensure 100% coverage. The participants hailed the efforts of the department in reaching out to the farmers and prompt grievances redressal. The members of the chopan community raised the issue of reservation in allocation of sheep units for impoverished chopan community on the analogy of SC/ST and women category.
They expressed hope that the community shall be given their due share in sheep units as they play a pivotal role in promoting sheep farming sector in the valley. The programme concluded with the distribution of medicine kits among the participants by the DDC Arin.

KR Desk