Government is taking steps to increase hybrid livestock population to meet the rising demand of Mutton, chicken and eggs in the state, reports Kashmir Observer. This will also help in neutralising capital outflow from Jammu and Kashmir, he added.

Poultry production has assumed a great importance in the state and has emerged as one of the agro-based industry which not only can provide high nutritious animal protein in the form of quality poultry meat and eggs but also can be a source of earning to the un-employed youth.

This was stated by the Minister for Animal Husbandry and Sheep Husbandry, Science and Technology and Information Technology, Aga Syed Ruhulla while addressing a gathering at Shalimar in connection with a one-day veterinary clinical and awareness camp today.

The Minister was accompanied by Minister of State for Hajj and Auquaf and Animal Husbandry, Ajaz Ahmad Khan.

The Minister reiterated the government's commitment to provide direct benefit to the farming community. He said that these people are willing to stand on their own legs, thus making it imperative for the department and its officials to provide necessary support and backup to these people. The concept of lab to land approach should be pursued vigorously so that benefits of scientific research in the labs are unlocked and reach to the grass root farmer.

The Minister of State, Ajaz Ahmad Khan while addressing the gathering said that livestock development has the potential to become the backbone of our economy as the agro-climatic conditions are perfectly suited for such type of development. The same can bridge the gap between supply and demand and revive the economy if pursued on sustainable basis.

Both the Ministers envisaged that innovative marketing strategies, embryo transfer technology, organised sheep and goat farming, need to be explored and developed so that real producers of livestock products get benefitted. They directed the officials of Animal and Sheep Husbandry department to pursue pasture development strategy and fodder quality on priority so that sufficient and nutritious fodder is available for the livestock even during winter season.

Earlier, the Ministers visited the Poultry project at Hariparbat and took stock of its functioning. The project has capacity for 37,000 chicks. The broiler project Hariparbat produces quality day-old chicks at the hatchery for sale to poultry farmers and also supplies chicks among progressive farmers after the chicks attained the age of one to three months.

Later, the Ministers also visited Sheep Breeding Farm at Dachigam and interacted with local sheep community and heard their grievances patiently. The Ministers assured them of all possible help and directed the concerned to take immediate measures to mitigate their problems and put up proposals for consideration and approval.

The Ministers asked the farming community to provide necessary inputs out of their experience in this sector so that a future plan of action is devised to cater to their specific needs.

On the occasion, Director Animal Husbandry, Dr J.L. Mattoo, Director Sheep Husbandry, Dr R.L. Khar, Managing Director, Wool Board, Deputy Director Animal Husbandry and other senior officers were also present, according to Kashmir Observer.