Minister of State for Animal & Sheep Husbandry, Abdul Majid Paddar informed the House that to boost indigenous poultry production in Poonch district and to make the district self-sufficient, the department of Animal Husbandry introduced Rural Backyard Poultry Scheme wherein financial assistance is given to BPL families in the form of cash and birds to encourage setting up of backyard poultry units.
He said the scheme is aimed at strengthening the rural backyard poultry network for income and nutritional supplementation and to boost egg and poultry meat production.
Replying to a question by Mr. Shah Mohammad Tantray, the Minister said that with regard to increase of milk production in the State, the department has launched various schemes in Jammu division which includes Haveli constituency also. He said under Integrated Dairy Development Programme (IDDP), National Mission for Protein, lucrative incentives and subsidies are being given to the farmers for increase in milk and poultry production.
The Minister further said that schemes like Mini Sheep Farms under State and Centre Plan are being also implemented by the department for providing employment opportunities and promoting organized sheep rearing, which consequently increase the wool production both qualitatively as well as quantitatively.
Legislators, Qamar Hussain, Javid Ahmed Beig and Raja Manzoor raised supplementaries to the main question and demanded promotion of high breed live stock in their constituencies.
The Minister assured the members that the department is going to introduce high breed cattle and sheep for better milk and mutton production in the State adding that steps are also underway to equip the veterinary hospitals with modern diagnostic equipments besides ensuring availability of adequate medicines.
