JKDFA expresses serious concern over fodder inflation in J&K

Jammu: JKDFA today hailed LG Administration for lifting ban on transportation of milch animals from outside J&K UT which was banned after spread of Lumpy Skin disease in J&K. Addressing a press conference at Jammu Press Club, Provincial President JKDFA Sandeep Singh Chib on the directions of JKDFA President Kulbhushan Khajuria in presence of JKDFA members Balwinder Singh, Satpal Choudhary ,Keher Singh, Vinod Sharma addressing media persons while highlighting burning issues of dairy farm sector expressed serious concern over consistent increase in fodder of animals affecting dairy farmers badly. Speaking on the occasion, he also reminded Rupala Sir his commitment at Srinagar conference on 11.10.2022 that lumpy Skin disease will be declared epidemic in J&K and the compensation to dairy farmers will be provided at the earliest who lost their cattle due to this disease and the same has not been provided so far. He demanded Commissioner Secretary immediate intervention in this regard to address grievances of dairy farmers. Chib however expressed gratitude to department for lowering cost of semen injection terming it a good decision. He said that urban and urban small-scale dairy farming is playing a vital role in improving household income, nutrition, food security and employment for low income households. However, it has been unable to meet the expected demand due to various production constraints. He demanded Govt to assess the farmers’ perception of major challenges of smallholder dairy production, possible causes, coping strategies and support needed. He said proper planning and implementation of appropriate institutional, technical, and technological interventions in an integrated approach with multiple stakeholders and dairy farmers would be essential to overcome the identified constraints of dairy production and to improve food security of dairy farmers.