Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairy, Rajiv Ranjan Singh and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah jointly chaired a high level review meeting of the animal husbandry and fisheries of Jammu and Kashmir at Srinagar, Civil Secretariat.
The meeting was attended by Agriculture Production Minister and Panchayati Raj Javid Ahmed Dar, Advisor to Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani, Secretary Goi Alka Upadhyay, Additional Chief Secretary Dhirj Gupta, Additional Secretary (CDD/IT) and other senior officers of fishermen, animal husbandry, animal husbandry and dairy. Principal Secretary Agriculture Production Department J&K Shailendra Kumar, Skuast-K and Skuast-J Vice Chancellor, and Head of Allied Departments were also present.
Addressing the meeting, the Union Minister outlined immense unused capacity in the livestock and fisheries areas of Jammu and Kashmir and assured full support from the Center.
He said, “We are to hear today, understand our challenges and work together. Where there is scope, action should be taken,” he said.
He called the joint efforts between the Center and the J&K government to change the ability to the results, saying that rural prosperity can only be achieved when economic development reaches the ground level through permanent livelihood.
The Union Minister said that encouraging youth to enter livestock and fisheries enterprises on subtle and small scale can cause employment and inclusive growth.
He informed that a detailed plan is being prepared by creating strong infrastructure and connecting farmers to markets to include major national institutions like National Dairy Dairy Development Board (NDDB) and National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB).
He announced the government’s intention to organize an exporters’ conference to promote entrepreneurship and a private sector investment conference in J&K.
Emphasizing the need to transfer dairy operations in the unorganized to organized sector, the minister emphasized the importance of cooperative societies and peasant manufacturer organizations (FPOs).
He cited the example of dairy cooperative societies in Varanasi, where milk production increased manifold, and additional income was also being earned from cattle waste. He urged J&K officials to study and repeat such successful models.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah thanked the Union Minister for his visit and reiterated the importance of such joint reviews in identifying local priorities and learning from national best practices.
He observed that in Jammu and Kashmir, large industries and factories have not always given permanent results, and the real opportunity lies in strengthening traditional areas such as agriculture, horticulture, livestock, fisheries and tourism. He said, “Our strength lies in these areas – not in chasing elusive factories. We should build on what is inherent in J&K,” he said.
The Chief Minister said that while J&K contributes to India’s 90% trout production, the region lacks organized processing and price joints. Similarly, despite the consumption of per capita meat, most of the mutton is sour from outside. He emphasized that self -sufficiency in meeting domestic demand can significantly improve income and reduce imports. He also talked about the gradual decline of cooperative societies in the dairy sector and assured that his government is committed to reviving cooperative culture and connecting milk producers to formal processing networks.
Referring to the Composite Agricultural Development Program (HATP), the Chief Minister said that the initiative was initiated to address important intervals in oilseeds production, fodder, dairy, mutton and fisheries. He appreciated the support of the central government and assured that all valuable suggestions made during the review would be implemented with honesty and urgency.
During the incident, the Union Minister and the Chief Minister inaugurated the Ultra High Temperature (UHT) milk plant, Jammu in the settime, and interacted with the progressive dairy farmers who shared their experiences of better income and organized purchase process through cooperatives.
The concluding the meeting, the two leaders confirmed their shared vision to convert animal husbandry and fisheries in Jammu and Kashmir to lively, employment-generating areas. It was solved to implement joint strategies for infrastructure expansion, market linkage, entrepreneurship development, and revival of cooperatives with the aim of creating a flexible rural economy.
Earlier, Principal Secretary Shailendra Kumar gave a detailed presentation on the performance of animal husbandry and fisheries departments, given that Sector J&K’s GDP’s GDP contributes ₹ 12,634 crore -6.25%. Livestock population includes 24.54 lakh cattle, 31 lakh sheep, 15 lakh goats, and 73 lakh backyard poultry, including annual milk production 2,875 TMT and 90% of national production with trout accounting.
The presentation highlighted achievements under major schemes. Under the National Livestock Mission, 2.9 lakh animals were insured and sheep AI centers were established. Livestock health and disease control provided mass vaccination facility and 50 mobile veterinary units have been deployed. The meeting was informed that NADCP has covered more than 96 lakh vaccinations, and Rashtriya Gokul Mission has expanded AI services and trained over 1,500 matris. PMMMSY has supported Aquaculture Infrastructure, Decorative Fisheries and RAS units to benefit around 80,000 individuals.
Under the National Program for Dairy Development, JKMPCL is targeting a turnover of 500 crores by 2025-26, with two new milk plants running at a cost of ₹ 258.10 crore. More than 11.33 lakh farmer credit cards have been issued, including 2.46 lakhs for AH and F. AHIDF has achieved 73% approval rate by enabling private investment in dairy and poultry infrastructure.
It was noted that the and 5,013 crore overall agricultural development program includes livestock and fisheries and 1,364 crores, which are aimed at self -sufficiency in milk, mutton and eggs. More than 1,800 animals have been deployed, and 500 hydroponic fodder units are being installed to meet the needs of green fodder.
It was said that digitization is proceeding through platforms like farmer Sati portal, utter farmer LMS and output tracking app. More than 2,000 farmers are being set up to distribute agricultural services at the grassroots level.
The reform efforts of the department have earned national recognition, including the Best UT at the Fisheries Award for the Scoot Gold Award, Innovation Leadership Award and 2024.