Kashmir
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| | Altaf for bridging gap between supply, demand of fodder | | | SRINAGAR, July 3: Minister for Forests and Environment, Mian Altaf Ahmad has called for adopting scientific approach for development pastures of fodder and high altitude pastures for the live stock of the state.
Speaking at a review meeting of Agrostology wing of J&K Forest Department at Civil Secretariat today, the Minister said since our natural resources have been subjected to tremendous biotic pressure by live stock population, there was urgent need to ensure natural regeneration of pastures besides production of quality fodder for the live stock population which has almost more than doubled from 40.08 lakhs to 104.75 lakhs during last 50 years since 1956.
He said in order to sustain the pasture and fodder development, the Agrostology wing of the Forest Department has tremendous role to play adding that they should ensure intensive and wise use of posture lands in forest areas and to improve the quality of fodder by increasing and introducing improved varieties of grasses and legumes. “This will also help to improve the economic status of nomadic people of the state”, he added. He asked the Agrostology department to produce quality grass seeds for further multiplication among the nomadic people and to check imbalance between supply and demand of fodder. “Research and extension for introduction of improved varieties of grass and legumes is of primary importance in this regard”, Mian Altaf added.
The meeting was informed that an amount of Rs. 82 lakhs under state plan is proposed to be spent on pasture and fodder development in the state during the current financial year with main focus on participatory grazing and land management. Rs. 157.38 lakhs are also proposed to be spent on various schemes related to pasture and fodder development under CAMPA.
The meeting was further informed that an amount of Rs. 58.69 lakhs were spent on various pasture and fodder development schemes under state plan where as Rs. 76.13 lakhs were spent for the purpose under CAMPA covering a total areas of 330 hectares of land and about 15.48 hundred quintal of green fodder which has been distributed among 11253 beneficiaries during the last year which include 8032 in Kashmir and 3221 in Jammu region.
The meeting was further informed that 390 Agro units have been established over an area of about 4560 hectares of forest land where 16000 quintals of different perennial species of grass and legumes are being produced annually. |
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