Minister of Agriculture Production Department (APD) and Rural Development & Panchayati Raj Department, Javed Ahmad Dar, today called for enhanced efforts in improving the quality of livestock fodder and strengthening the dairy and poultry sectors in Jammu and Kashmir.

Speaking during a review meeting of Animal Husbandry department, the Minister highlighted that strengthening these sectors would not only uplift the livelihoods of farmers but also create significant economic opportunities across Jammu and Kashmir.

Javed Dar asserted on creating fool-proof mechanism for quality check of fodder/feed used for breeding of livestock for production of dairy and poultry in J&K.

The meeting focused on critical initiatives under HADP, including dairy sector strengthening, poultry production enhancement and development of sustainable fodder resources.

The Minister took detailed review of Integrated Dairy Development Programme, Integrated Feed/Fodder Development Programme, IPDP implementation and status fo flagship programmes including strengthening farms, hatcheries, Animal welfare activities, functioning of veterinary centres and other activities.

Earlier, the senior officers from Animal Husbandry Department briefed the Minister regarding initiatives undertaken to improve livestock productivity and support farmers in the Jammu region.

Javed Dar stressed the need for evolving a robust quality check mechanism for livestock fodder, emphasizing its role in enhancing the health and productivity of livestock. He also underscored the importance of effective coordination between departments, innovative approaches to fodder development, and leveraging modern technology to achieve maximum output in dairy and poultry sectors.

The Minister said that the dairy and poultry sectors hold immense potential for contributing to the economic growth of Jammu and Kashmir.

Reiterating the government's commitment towards supporting the farming community, the Minister called for concerted efforts to address challenges and implement HADP schemes effectively.

The meeting was attended by the senior officials from concerned departments.