J&K imports 15 lakh sheeps and goats for mutton every year

Tahir Mushtaq

JAMMU, Apr 18: Nearly 15 lakh sheep and goats are imported into Jammu and Kashmir every year for mutton at a cost of Rs 1,500 crore.

Officials said that due to the less production of the meat, poultry and eggs in J&K, state has to trade in these products from the outside to fulfill the need of the people. They further said if this huge amount gets revert back in the state then it would change the completion of the state economy.

“There is a vital need for improving the production and productivity of mutton and poultry to get rid of the gap between the supply and demand in the state”, said a source.

Officials said that few years back, to promote organized farming and institutions of poultry and sheep cooperatives, suitable measures and development interventions for promoting livestock sector was taken up across the state.

Sources said that expert groups have recommended that extension facilities to far off and backward places, genetic improvement, introduction of hi-tech commercial broiler for enhancing white meat production and dropper breed of sheep to increase the mutton production besides proper health cover can help a lot in the pursuit of this goal.

The government should do efforts to promote commercial poultry in the state to generate employment opportunities, and to augment the role of the cooperation section in economic development of the state.

When contacted Minister for Animal and Sheep Husbandry, Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi said that the government is doing efforts to reduce the import of the products from outside state.

Mehdi further said before three years when the trade from outside was around Rs 1500 crore on all products and now it is reduced upto 1200 to 1300 crore annually.

He disclosed that the government has launched six state and centre sponsored schemes for the poultry and mutton production in the state. “More schemes are in the pipeline to decrease the trade from outside” Mehdi added.