Jammu : Secretary Agriculture Production Department J&K and Mission Director Holistic Agriculture Development Program (HADP) Sandeep Kumar on Thursday visited villages of block Marh in Jammu to monitor the progress of milk producing societies and dairy projects established under Holistic Agriculture Development Program (HADP).
The Mission director received a very warm welcome by president Patyalichak Dairy Cooperative Society, Gopal Dass Sharma who apprised the MD regarding functioning of the cooperative society including its milk collection and marketing operations.
During the interaction with member-farmers, the MD was informed that the society was established by Animal Husbandry department Jammu under HADP in the year 2023-2024 and was supported with necessary infrastructure and finance. He was further informed that the society comprises of more than 50 dairy farmers and the average daily milk collection is approximately 5 quintals. The milk collected is supplied to JKMPCL after testing and profit is distributed among the members of the society, he was further informed.
On the second leg of the tour, the MD visited various Satellite Heifer units and Silage making units established under HADP in Marh block notably Karloop and Chatha Gujran villages. He interacted with owners enquiring about the status of these units and the grievances if any being faced by them in running these units.
The tour concluded with visit to UZMA Self Help group and milk collection centre in village Lalyal. The MD was informed that the self help group exclusively comprises of women dairy farmers of the region with daily collection of 1500 lts of milk. The society prepares various dairy products like kaladi, ghee, curd, butter etc. which are sold in various retail stores in Jammu city. He was further informed that the department of Animal Husbandry Jammu was instrumental in supporting this dairy society by providing more than rupees 30 lakhs as incentive to it under HADP.
The visiting officer expressed satisfaction over the manner in which department of Animal Husbandry is implementing various developmental initiatives under HADP at grass root levels which is benefitting the dairy farmers through employment generation and income enhancement.
The MD was accompanied on the tour by Arvinder Singh Reen, Director Agriculture Jammu, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, Joint Director Animal Husbandry Jammu, Dr Zahid Salim Chief Animal Husbandry officer Jammu, Dr. Zafar Iqbal, Livestock Development officer Jammu, Dr Abhimanyu Koul, Technical officer to Mission Director HADP , Dr Rajesh Kalha VAS Marh , Dr Anjal Kumar VAS Gajansoo, Dr. Fareed VAS Kana Chak, Reena Sharma, BPM-NRLM, Marh besides other officials of Animal Husbandry and Agriculture Deptts Jammu.
