Additional Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo today held a meeting with Expert Delegates from New Zealand G2G (government to government) to discuss the preliminary high level observations by the team over small ruminant sector in Jammu and Kashmir.
Director Agribusiness Group New Zealand, Dr Stuart Ford; Science Impact Leader, AgResearch Ltd, Dr Warren King; Senior BDM, New Zealand Trade & Enterprise, New Delhi, Ms Sudha Palit, Secretary in APD J&K, Director Sheep Husbandry Kashmir/Jammu, Technical Officer (A) APD and other concerned attended the meeting in person and through virtual mode.
The Expert Delegation wrapped up the survey of the small ruminant sector in J&K and shared their inputs and feedback with the ACS during their presentation and presented several observations.
In its presentation, the team of experts complimented the existing government farms and observed that these farms are leading in terms of their purpose which is to produce genetic material and have a very good reputation amongst the breeders. They suggested that in order to develop sheep farms it would be appropriate to enhance their systems to incorporate better feeding so that they are able to fully express their generic potential and deliver maximum potential production and financial results. Developing model sheep farm
They also suggested leading edge technologies like Artificial Insemination and ET besides expressing their desire to collaborate with the J&K in the marketing of wool and mutton.
The expert delegation expressed willingness to provide assistance with fodder production and balanced nutrition and can also help in establishing modern laboratories and disease diagnostic facilities and to share their expertise in improving selection for meat and wool production, significant advantages to advance and expand current skill set with greater education opportunities.
While speaking at the session, the ACS said post the preliminary observation, the team is required to make an Action plan wherein several requirements of different components like introducing new breeds, meeting local demands, etc can be incorporated. He said that there is also a need to identify gaps and to plug in those gaps so that purposes of setting labs are fulfilled.
He added that these things can be part of an action plan, and a lot more needs to be done like how to improve on breeds to make sheep farming an attractive occupation for farmers and said J&K needs support.
