Contribution of dairying sector to national income invaluable: Sandeep Chib

Says dairy sector reliable contributor to J&K economy, deserves top priority of govt

Jammu: AAP leader Sandeep Singh Chib Wednesday highlighting issues of dairy farmers said that Dairy farming is physically hard, with limited freedom due to twice-daily milking duties and low revenues. In this regard he urged LG Administration to work on modern innovative schemes for dairy development in union territory.

Chib urged Govt to listen to long pending demand of dairy farmers who have been demanding increase in the price of milk for a long time as they have incurred great losses. Many of them have also closed down their dairies. Most of them are either farmer who are landless or have small or medium holdings. For many of them the pandemic and hike in fodder price has rung a death knell for their source of livelihood.

He said it has been a long time since the price of milk revised and the summer months already see a drop in milk production. Besides, the price of everything else including petrol, diesel, fodder and medicines had gone up but not of milk.The petrol-Diesel prices increases almost every other day, there is a corresponding price hike in cattle feed too. But the price of milk has remained unchanged. The price of milk should be revised to bring some relief to the beleaguered dairy farmers added Chib.

Chib observed that J&K being an agrarian region, the agriculture sector contributes 16.18 per cent to J&K’s GDP, of which dairy sector constitutes more than one-third, he said.“Dairy is one of the most important sectors and the vast population living in rural areas relies on dairy and livestock for their livelihood. Therefore, improving the position of the dairy sector in J&K is directly proportional to improving the socio-economic condition of people,” he said.

 “Majority of the dairy producers in J&K are small holders having 2-3 animals, to increase production, the government should boost schemes like dairy entrepreneurship development scheme to focus on setting up small dairy farms,” Chib said.The department should ensure dairy farmers guidance on scientific lines to manage their dairy farm.  To prevent economic loss to dairy farmers, the department should cover dairy animals under subsidized livestock insurance schemes.

Chib further said that contribution of dairying sector to the national income is invaluable. This sector provides insurance against crop failures. This sector helps in increasing the crop production by providing the drag power, organic manure and cash income on a regular basis. Maximum milk is produced in the selected parts of the parts of the J&K. Lack of technological dairy information sources is one of the reasons of low milk production for the farmers of hilly areas.

 Chib emphasized on the use of advanced breeding tools to increase the breeding bulls for expansion of artificial expansion in J&K. Clinical animal health services with capacity building for superspeciality and advanced medicinal interventions need to be developed. He said animal diseases and parasites need to be managed according to the different agro-climatic zones in J&K. Focus should be given on important diseases like foot and mouth disease, mastitis, tuberculosis, metabolic disorders   for the safety of animals, added Chib.