Srinagar, July 23: A high level team of experts from Planning Commission of India along with state government officials reviewed the animal husbandry sector here today.
 The team working under the banner ‘Working Group on Animal Husbandry and Dairying for the 12th Five Year Plan’ arrived here yesterday and is expected to hold discussions tomorrow also.
 Working group Chairman, Dr V K Taneja said the aim of setting up the working group is to have critical examination of the schemes already under execution in the sector.
 The team, he said, shall also review state’s role and contribution towards furthering the process of development of Animal Husbandry & Dairying sector.
 “The working group would also examine the recommendations of the Advisory Committee of Planning Commission and measures for their implementation,” he added.
 Dr. Taneja said the group would also address the constraints faced by Animal Husbandry & Dairying in terms of inputs, technology, disease control, infrastructure and marketing, besides revisiting centrally sponsored schemes like RKVY, ATMA, etc.
 In his presentation, Commissioner-Secretary, Animal & Sheep Husbandry, B D Sharma said the livestock population in the state has increased over the years and the ratio of animal per 100 persons is much higher than the national average.
 He said genetic upgradation in case of 80 per cent cattle and 50 per cent buffaloes has been achieved.
 Sharma said the draft of a Livestock Policy is being formulated. He said 750 new veterinary centres are being set up in inaccessible areas. He demanded assistance to the State on the pattern of North Eastern states given the identical nature of problems and difficulties.
 Notably, the working group has 12 sub-groups on subjects like new schemes in Animal Husbandry, Animal Husbandry extension, Animal Health and Climate Change, Human Resource, Technology and Training, Small ruminants, yak, mithun and camel, poultry, conservation of animal genetic resources, finance, credit and insurance, value addition and marketing of milk and milk products, abattoirs and marketing of meat and feed and fodder.
 The Working Group comprises, Dr V K Taneja, Vice Chancellor, Guru Angad Dev Vet. & Animal Science University, Ludhiana (Chairman), Dr A S Nanda, Animal Husbandry Commissioner, Union Ministry of Agriculture, Mr. Suresh Kumar, Chairman, Planning Commission Working Group on Agriculture, Dr. Pradeep Kumar, Vice-Chancellor, Lala Lajpat Rai Veterinary University, Hissar, Dr. A. K. Srivastava, Director, National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, Dr. M. M. Roy, Director, Central Arid Zone Research Institute, Jodhpur, Dr. Palanimuthu Thangaraju, former Vice-Chancellor, TANUVAS, Chennai.
 Senior officers of Animal and Sheep Husbandry Departments, Veterinary Deans of SKUAST (K/J) and related officers were present in the discussions.

Lastupdate on : Sat, 23 Jul 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sat, 23 Jul 2011 18:30:00 GMT
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