Govt’s annual spending per animal Rs 11; coming fiscal’s budget 533 Cr

TNN Bureau. Updated: 1/20/2017 11:56:12 PM Front Page

JAMMU: This may be a lesser known fact but sounds interesting –the state government spends Rs 11 per animal a year for healthcare and fodder. The livestock population, for known reasons, is on constant decline over last few years.
The department of Animal and Sheep Husbandry, which takes care of the livestock issues, was today authorised by the Assembly to spend Rs 533 Crore as its annual budget for the financial year 2017-18.
Replying to discussion on demands for the grants of his department, the Animal Husbandry Minister, Abdul Gani Kohli said said the Government has also taken initiatives to provide relief to the cattle owners by Insuring Animals and has been projected under National Livestock Mission which is under consideration of Government of India.
"Presently Rs 11.42 is being spent by the Government per Animal/annum in the State for providing health care facilities and improvement of fodder for animals”, the Minister said.
The Minster said the department is also aiming to further enhance milk production in the State for which department is actively considering for opening of at least one dairy village in each constituency in the first instance to give boost to the milk production besides generating employment.
"To achieve the goal of increasing local indigenous cattle by genetic up-gradation, during 2015-16 around 8 lakh artificial inseminations were provided to the cows to further increase milk production in future", the Minster said.
He added that as per 2012 census the livestock population has decreased in the State but with the concerted efforts of the department, milk production in the State has seen an upward trend.
The Minister said for Sheep husbandry development, the department is focusing on encouraging breeders to have such flock which will produce more wool, besides focused attention is also given to increase the mutton production locally so that the imports are reduced further. The department is actively pursuing for establishment of more Mini-Sheep Farms and revision in the cost with the Planning and Finance Department, he added.
He said the department has established number of farms where new breed goats are being reared and after the rearing of high breed goat same is being provided to the breeders for rearing and this process has helped to some extent in increasing the mutton production within the State.
He said proper facilities are provided to the breeders particularly during the period when they are in transit. Dispensaries are being temporarily established at high altitude crossing points, the Minister said.
In the Poultry sector, the department is envisaging some new methods and taking steps to declare the poultry farming activity an industry so that it gets the incentives, the Minister said.
The Minister said that to spruce up the fisheries sector, a New Fisheries Act replacing the Fisheries Act, 1903 has been finalized by the Department and shall be placed before the State Cabinet for approval.
Besides, Government of India has also sanctioned a scheme called Blue Revolution under which an amount of Rs 13 crore has been sanctioned by the Centre which will give further boost to the production of Fish in the State, the Minister added
Kohli said the department has established hatcheries and rearing units for trout adding that the biggest hatchery for trout has been established at Kokernag which has a capacity to produce 1.2 million eggs every year.
Presently there are around 15000 fishermen who are able to produce 20000 metric tons of fish within the State of mostly carp and through various schemes, 952 carp units and 388 trout units have been established in private sector and the Department is providing necessary assistance for their development, he added.
Later, the House passed the grants of Animal, Sheep Husbandry and Fisheries Departments, for the year 2017-18, which were moved by the Minister, amounting to Rs 53321.29 lakh and 8503.37 lakh respectively with voice vote.


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