India - IDDP gives flip to dairy development in 3 valley districts

The Integrated Dairy Development Programme has brought a remarkable change in dairy development in the three districts of valley viz. Budgam, Varmul and Kupwara. The centrally funded project launched in 1995-96 has helped the districts to create infrastructure for over all development of the dairy industry in general and establishment of milk cooperatives in particular. It is the IDDP that has enabled the valley to introduce Frozen Semen Technology for Cattle improvement even to the remotest areas of the three districts. The Liquid Nitrogen Plant installed at Budgam under the centrally aided IDD Programme in 1998 at a cost of Rs 68.00 lacs has so far produced Liquid Nitrogen worth Rs 80.00 lacs. The liquefied gas used to preserve Bovine germplasm at –197 degree Celsius has enabled the district to extend artificial insemination facilities even in its remotest villages. The district produces 3.81 lac litres of milk daily and supplies around 2.06 lac liters of surplus milk to Srinagar City. The district has 30 registered milk cooperatives out of which 26 are functional, mostly in Chadoora and Magam belts. These cooperatives are supplying milk to the Cheshma Shahi Milk Plant on daily basis. Many more cooperatives are being formed during the current year. This information was given to Ms Neerja Raj Kumar, IAS, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, GOI during her visit to the plant. The visiting dignitary later inspected the ongoing improvement works at Broiler/Poultry Project Hariparbat. The Union Government has sanctioned Rs 82 lac each for Poultry Projects at Hari Parbat, Athwajan, Mattan and Belicharana under ‘Assistance to State Poultry Farms’ for strengthening of infrastructure. Under the programme Rs 21 lac each were released for Poultry Project Hariparbat and Belicharana in the 1st instance during last year. The Joint Secretary accompanied by Dr Mohammad Deen, Secretary to Government Animal/Sheep Husbandry, J&K Government, Banu Pratap Nagar, Assistant Commissioner (Poultry), GOI, Dr RK Dhar, Director Animal Husbandry Kashmir and other State officials later visited Milk Plant at Cheshma Shahi. The plant re-commissioned this year with the installed capacity of 10,000 litres is processing 40,0000 litres daily and sold under the brand name of ‘Snowcap’. The State Government has brought in Gujrat Milk Marketing Cooperatives Union Federation to revamp and put the milk plant back on rails.