UDHAMPUR, JANUARY 13: Mission Director Dairy Development (Animal Husbandry Department), Narinder Singh Bali conducted a comprehensive field visit in Udhampur district to evaluate the implementation of key developmental programs.
The visit focused on the impact of the Holistic Agriculture Development Program (HADP) and the Integrated Dairy Development Scheme (IDDS) on local livelihoods.
Accompanied by the Chief Animal Husbandry Officer, Dr. Shivatamri Khajuria and district-level officers, the Mission Director conducted on-the-spot assessments of government schemes, including establishment of satellite heifer units, commercial layer farms and free-range poultry units.
Interacting with the beneficiaries, the MD emphasized that the goal of government subsidies is to create long-term, sustainable income. He advocated for a “Group Approach” utilizing Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) to scale operations effectively.
A key highlight of the visit was the Director’s focus on the circular economy. He urged farmers to integrate biogas production, utilizing cow dung for renewable energy, organic farming by converting slurry into vermicompost to reduce chemical dependency and develop climate resilience to align livestock rearing. He urged for conducting plantation drives and adopt environment-friendly practices to mitigate effects of climate change.
The Mission Director also inspected the District Veterinary Hospital and Modern Hatchery to review critical service delivery. He took stock of the progress of the construction of hospital’s new clinical block, modernization of facilities to provide better healthcare to livestock and strengthening the hatchery delivery system to serve the entire Jammu Division.
Expressing satisfaction over the district’s performance, the MD noted that the effective execution of HADP and IDDS in Udhampur serves as a benchmark for dairy-led economic growth.
“The successful implementation of these schemes is vital for strengthening the livestock sector, generating employment and improving the socio-economic conditions of our farmers,” the MD stated.
