March 28: The Department of Animal Husbandry, Jammu, organized a Mega Awareness Camp aimed at addressing the growing issue of unemployment and promoting employment generation schemes under the department. The camp brought together local farmers and experts to discuss various initiatives that can create sustainable employment opportunities in the region.
At the beginning of the program, Dr. Parvinder Singh Sudan, Director of the Animal Husbandry Department Jammu, launched a plantation drive, delivering a powerful message to all farmers: “Plant trees, Sow happiness.” The plantation drive was part of the department’s broader initiative to promote environmental awareness alongside its agricultural programs.
Following the launch, farmers were briefed on the Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP), which outlines a comprehensive approach for developing the dairy, poultry, and fodder sectors in the Union Territory (UT) of Jammu and Kashmir. The program is designed to provide a structured pathway for growth and ensure that local farmers benefit from improved agricultural practices. Additionally, officers from both the Animal Husbandry and Sheep Husbandry Departments shared detailed information about various schemes aimed at improving the sheep farming industry in the region.
One of the notable contributions came from Kulbushan Khajuria, a progressive farmer, who expressed gratitude for the department’s role in transforming Jammu into a milk-exporting district. Under the leadership of the Animal Husbandry Department, Jammu has successfully shifted from a milk-deficit region to one that exports milk to Moga, Punjab. Khajuria also suggested organizing a Cattle Sale Mandi to help local farmers sell their cattle, particularly those raised in the Satellite Heifer Rearing Units established under HADP.
Addressing the gathering, Dr. Parvinder Singh Sudan emphasized the importance of collaboration between the Animal Husbandry Department and farmers. He acknowledged that the department’s success is dependent on the support of progressive farmers. Dr. Sudan shared an exciting development—20 high genetic merit bulls will soon be imported to Jammu and Kashmir from the United States. This will enable the production of sex-sorted semen locally, which could significantly enhance breeding programs across the UT.
Dr. Sudan also highlighted the importance of value addition to the milk produced, emphasizing that this would allow farmers to earn better returns from their dairy products.
The camp also featured discussions by eminent subject experts, including Chief Animal Husbandry Officer (CAHO) Saleem Patigaroo, Sandeep Singh Chib, President of the J&K Dairy Association, Tajinder Singh, Member of the Kisan Advisory Board, Captain Rajinder Singh, a progressive dairy farmer, and Avtar Singh, a former Sarpanch of Chatha. Their contributions offered valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities within the agricultural sector in J&K.
Overall, the camp was a successful platform for farmers to learn about new opportunities, explore departmental schemes, and engage in discussions that could lead to the further development of the agricultural sector in Jammu and Kashmir.