Chief Secretary, B B Vyas Friday chaired 2nd meeting of the State Level Executive Committee (SLEC) for implementation of National Livestock Mission (NLM).
Commissioner/Secretary Forest, Ecology & Environment Department, Commissioner/Secretary, Rural Development Panchayati Raj, Commissioner/secretary, Animal & Sheep Husbandry, Dean Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, SKUAST, Jammu, Dean Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, SKUAST Kashmir and other senior officers were present in the meeting.
As Government of India has agreed to fund the National Livestock Mission in Jammu and Kashmir for the year 2016-17 and 2017-18, Chief Secretary stressed on the Animal and Sheep Husbandry department to adopt outcome based approach while implementing the Mission.
Chief Secretary observed that investment in sheep, poultry, Pashmina goat, fodder and feed development should be strategized to improve mutton, wool and egg production for attaining self sufficiency.
The Committee held detailed deliberations on the project proposals of the Animal and Sheep Husbandry department to the tune of Rs 25.44 Cr including Rs 18 Cr for livestock development and Rs 7.44 Cr for fodder and feed development.
The proposals are aimed at modernizing and development of breeding infrastructure in Sheep and Poultry farms/facilities in Kashmir, Jammu & Ladakh, import of Merino Sheep & Rambouillet Sheep, development of Pashmina Goat farms in Kargil and Leh besides development of fodder farms/stations in Kashmir, Jammu and Ladakh.
For the successful implementation of the Mission, Chief Secretary stressed on conducting monthly review of the Action Plan against measurable bench marks, monitoring the outcomes and dovetailing some of the activities under the Mission with the Rural Development and Forest Departments to reap tangible benefits.
He also called upon the department to focus on the traditional routes taken by the nomadic population of the state to ensure availability of enriched fodder/feed for their animals.
Chief Secretary directed the department to conduct a situational analysis of the existing poultry diagnostic laboratories/facilities in the state and suggest steps for their improvement. He also emphasized on capacity building and linkages.