Srinagar, Apr 7: Kashmir Centre for Social and Development Studies (KCSDS) has strongly opposed the proposed shifting of sheep breeding farm Dachigam and urged the Government to reconsider its decision.
 In a statement, chairperson KCSDS Dr Hameeda Nayeem said the farm has been has been key to the great success story of evolution of Kashmir merino breed and continuation of cross breeding programme.
 “We are risking losing another farm without demonstrable benefit to the cause of wildlife. This move will affect hundreds of sheep breeders and farmers and upcoming entrepreneurs from Srinagar City for whom it provides not only elite rams but nearest model for designing their own farms. This move amounts to destruction of our historical heritage as the farm is now a heritage site and symbol of development history,” Dr Hameeda said.
 “The civil society dismisses the logic that finds no problem with human intervention in the national park, VIP hut, military movement besides fish farm but attributes all ills to sheep farm. The civil society calls for impartial probe into the matter that analyzes the whole issue of hangul versus sheep from scientific, ecological and other perspectives so that the public is not kept in dark regarding the real motives of the State,” she said.
 She said the KCSDS collected opinions of experts of veterinary epidemiology, veterinary public health, animal pathology, animal breeding and management on the matter who strongly objected to claimed scientific evidence implicating diseases and fodder competition from sheep in the farm for decrease in Hangul population.

Lastupdate on : Sat, 7 Apr 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sat, 7 Apr 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sun, 8 Apr 2012 00:00:00 IST