Tahir Mushtaq
JAMMU, Aug 23: Unable to cope up with increasing demand of milk locally, Jammu annually imports nearly six lakh Metric tonnes from other parts of the country. This despite that fact the crores have been spent on cattle breeding programme in the state in past few years.
While officials blame the floating population which include security forces engaged in anti-insurgency operations for the deficit, but sources said that unscientific methods and lack of help from the Animal Husbandry department is mostly responsible for the milk deficit faced by the state particularly Jammu region.
“At this moment farmers here face the problem of green fodder, except some parts of Jammu region and valley, milk producers in most of the areas don’t find green fodder which is also responsible for less production”, said a official.
Number of milch cattle in Jammu division is close to 25 lakh and annual production is nearly 15 lakh Metric Tonnes annually.
A senior officer of the Animal Husbandry department said, “Our production is enough to meet the needs of the people but the floating population like pilgrims and security forces are also dependent on our production which is main reason for import”.
He said that department has taken up many projects like introduction of cross breeding methods and in coming years production is likely to increase and new projects are being taken for the same.
Despite having temperate climate, J&K has vital potential of both processing and consumption in milk production but this State lacks marketing strategy.
As this sector is un-organised, the middle-men were ruling the roost in many areas.
According to the officials, another problem which the milk producers in the state face is that most of the producers are working unorganized and don’t use scientific methods for production.
On papers there are number of cooperative societies but most of them don’t function, those engaged in milk production are unorganized”, said a official. At present milk consumption in this State is 330 grams per person per day.
Not only consumption of milk is more in this State but quality of cattle is much better as compared to other parts of the country and we are introducing more scientific ways to increase production.
JAMMU, Aug 23: Unable to cope up with increasing demand of milk locally, Jammu annually imports nearly six lakh Metric tonnes from other parts of the country. This despite that fact the crores have been spent on cattle breeding programme in the state in past few years.
While officials blame the floating population which include security forces engaged in anti-insurgency operations for the deficit, but sources said that unscientific methods and lack of help from the Animal Husbandry department is mostly responsible for the milk deficit faced by the state particularly Jammu region.
“At this moment farmers here face the problem of green fodder, except some parts of Jammu region and valley, milk producers in most of the areas don’t find green fodder which is also responsible for less production”, said a official.
Number of milch cattle in Jammu division is close to 25 lakh and annual production is nearly 15 lakh Metric Tonnes annually.
A senior officer of the Animal Husbandry department said, “Our production is enough to meet the needs of the people but the floating population like pilgrims and security forces are also dependent on our production which is main reason for import”.
He said that department has taken up many projects like introduction of cross breeding methods and in coming years production is likely to increase and new projects are being taken for the same.
Despite having temperate climate, J&K has vital potential of both processing and consumption in milk production but this State lacks marketing strategy.
As this sector is un-organised, the middle-men were ruling the roost in many areas.
According to the officials, another problem which the milk producers in the state face is that most of the producers are working unorganized and don’t use scientific methods for production.
On papers there are number of cooperative societies but most of them don’t function, those engaged in milk production are unorganized”, said a official. At present milk consumption in this State is 330 grams per person per day.
Not only consumption of milk is more in this State but quality of cattle is much better as compared to other parts of the country and we are introducing more scientific ways to increase production.
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