Dulloo inaugurates sheep husbandry technical workshop at Jammu

JAMMU : Additional Chief Secretary (ACS), Agriculture Production Department, Atal Dulloo toady inaugurated one-day Technical Workshop-cum-Seminar on ‘Latest Technical Interventions in Sheep and Goat Husbandry Sector in the Union Territory at Kisan Bhawan here.

Vice Chancellor, SKUAST Jammu, Prof JP Sharma was the guest of honour at the occasion.

In his address, the ACS informed about the MoU with New Zealand under which the sheep husbandry sector is going to be developed with world class technology and expertise.

Atal Dulloo stressed on the need for breed improvement among other initiatives for increasing mutton production to meet the 40 percent deficit in the UT.

He also called for improvements in germ plasm production through artificial insemination and embryo transfer technologies.

For strengthening of the sector, the ACS suggested increasing healthcare outreach in alpine pastures and other remote regions of J&K.

He also acknowledged the significant role of development of new vaccines.

He took note of fodder scarcity in the UT and called for providing farmers with wool aggregation facilities and help on formation of Farmers Producers Organisations.

ACS shared a plan of action under which improvement of germ plasm, augmentation of animal health facilities, increasing fodder production and availability and post production initiatives like meat processing etc for increasing exports could be undertaken.

He shared that the Integrated Sheep Development Scheme has benefited many farmers and called for continued assistance under the scheme. Under the National Digital Livestock Mission, he said, production of mutton and wool would be encouraged.

Prof JP Sharma underlined that the sector provides livelihood to poorer sections of the society and therefore approached with due attention towards their needs.

He also highlighted the requirement of value addition and post production processing to increase income of people involved in the sector.

Earlier, Director Sheep Husbandry Jammu, Krishan Lal in his welcome address informed that veterinarians and paramedics of the sector would be educated about the latest developments in disease investigation, animal nutrition, Embryo Transfer Technology and Artificial Insemination etc.

He shared that the department aims to increase mutton production and promote cross breeding with superior breeds. Seven departmental farms are on the job of increasing the quality of germ plasm, he informed.

Eight research papers and their research findings were shared on the occasion for awareness of the staff by experts.

Those present at the occasion include Director Agriculture Jammu, KK Sharma; Managing Director JK Agro, Dr Arun Manhas; Joint Director Farms Jammu, Joint Director Extension Jammu among other senior officers and staff of the department.