Principal Secretary Animal /Sheep Husbandry, Fisheries and transport Dr. Asgar Hassan Samoon today conducted an extensive tour of Anantnag district were in He visited various Fish farms & Animal /Sheep Husbandry units.
The DDC, Anantnag, Mr. Mohammad Younis Malik, Director Fisheries, Mr. R.K.Pandita, Director Animal Husbandry, Kashmir, Joint Director Animal Husbandry & District officers of the Line departments were present during the tour.
Dr. Samoon also inaugurated various new Trout Hatchery houses at Panzath, Achabal, Hygienic Fish Sale Centre, Ashajipora. With the coming of these establishments the production of Trout Fish Seed will increase manifold. This will help the district cater the increasing Trout Fish seed demand of the departmental as well as of private units of the state. The fish sale centre, Ashajipora will provide a platform for government as well as for private unit holders for conducting the sale of fish in a Hygienic way. During the visit Dr. Samoon was appraised about declaring district Anantnag as a trout district by national fisheries development board, for the development of which a project of Rs.2.192 crores was sanctioned under the scheme “Below Revolution” under the project the departments not going to carry out an extension plan for upgradation of existing departmental units and trout streams of the District but is also going to establish two new trout farms (at Gutligund Verinag and at Katsoo) and 30 new private trout units in the district. He was also informed that during 2017 – 2018 a record fish production of 414.92 tonnes has been achieved. The department has so for established 140 private fish units and 116 low cost houses in the district. The department has also provided financial assistance to 05 fishermen for construction of low cost houses and also distributed 30 bicycles, 603 lanterns, 67 cast nets to the bonafide fishermen of the district.
The Dr. Samoon also inaugurated double story Veterinary Hospital at Larkipora constructed by R&B Division, Qazigund an estimated cost of Rs.30.68 lacs. He also made inauguration of laboratory, vaccine programme and visited various units including poultry rearing yard.
Samoon also distributed five hybrid sheep free among the sheep breeders at Pahalgam under free ram distribution scheme for genetic up- gradation of local live stock.
Samoon later chaired a meeting of the Animal / Sheep Husbandry departments to take stock of the achievements under these sectors.
The Chief Animal Husbandry Officer, Islamabad, Dr. Mohammad Saleem informed about the progress and achievements made under live stock during 2017 – 2018. He said that the total live stock population of the district has reached to 6033871 & the Annual Poultry production has touched to 3000 tonnes. The milk production has reached to 2.21 lac tonnes and the egg production has reached to 18.47 millions.
The under cattle development / frozen semen programme 99924 A.I’s have been conduct and 40857 births have been recorded. Total cattle population has reached to 210958, Buffalo population reached to 4615 & total poultry population to 388298 birds.
The district Sheep Husbandry Officer, Dr. Iftikhar Kabli informed that the Sheep & Goat population of the district has reached to 2.54 lacs while as Mutton production has reached to 13.44 lac KGs and 4.29 lac KGs of wool has been recorded in the district. He further stated that 29 mini Sheep farm units (50 Eves) have been established while as under RKVY 34 units (25 Eves) have been setup and under back yard 19 units of (10 Eves) & 40 units of (10 Eves) under tribal sub plan have been setup in the district.
The District Development Commissioner, Anantnag assured the Principal Secretary for providing financial assistance of Rs.20 lacs under MGNREGA conversions mode for construction of 20 racing ponds in the district.
While speaking on the occasion Dr. Asgar Samoon asked the youth to come forward for taking benefits under various central & state sponsored schemes of Sheep, Animal & Fisheries sectors. He also said that there are avenues of employment in private sector particularly in Fish Farming & Sheep Breeding for which government is providing financial assistance for constriction of racing ponds & two time seed and breed for the finger lings. He also informed that in Animal Husbandry Department, 1000 posts of doctors and 1500 posts of Para medical staff will be advertised soon to engage the well qualified youth of the state.