Dept’s apathy leads to poor milk, poultry production

RK Kichlu

Batote, August 25

The apathy of the Animal Husbandry Department (AHD) has led to poor milk and poultry production in Ramban district.

Despite huge government expenditure, there is scarcity of milk and poultry even in villages and the markets have been flooded with packed milk and imported poultry. “My precious jersey cow has not conceived for the past three years because AHD officials failed to vaccinate her or inseminate her artificially,” rues MA Nizami from Ramban town. Only a few loan cases for establishing dairy units came up during the last year. This is because of lack of adequate funds under centrally sponsored schemes for enhancing dairy production and callous attitude of the authorities.

For nearly 1.70 lakh animals and 1.71 lakh poultry population there are only three veterinary assistant surgeons, out of the 11 posts sanctioned. Only 99 out of 145 posts have been filled to man 42 veterinary centres, including 25 artificial insemination centres and three poultry demonstration centres in the district.

During the cattle census, official figures of cattle and poultry were allegedly fudged by the officers concerned to show them to be higher in number.

There is no record of four breeding bulls out of 14 and in the absence of a clinical laboratory in the district, treating seriously sick animals has been difficult. The backyard poultry unit exist negligibly. The poultry demonstration centres at Ramban and Banihal have been closed. There is no project for rearing calves born out of artificially inseminated local cows, as their requirement of milk (10% of calf’s body weight) is more than what their mothers can yield, resulting in death of majority of these calves.

“The four missing bulls had died before my joining here and the Central scheme for backyard poultry was stopped way back. Despite all odds, I gave my best and was awarded Bharat Jyoti and District Performance Awards in 2015-16. Except an awareness camp on April 5 and three fertility camps, no other camp was officially sanctioned. Instead of paying Rs 250 to each invitee, I had invested on their fare and lunch in the April-camp and had held eight camps on my own,” said Ramban Chief Animal Husbandry Officer Ramesh Razdan.