Atal Dulloo reviews strategies to boost milk and mutton production in J&K
SRINAGAR: Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo today chaired a high-level meeting of the Agriculture Production Department (APD) to review the ongoing initiatives aimed at enhancing milk and mutton production across the Union Territory.
During the meeting, the Chief Secretary highlighted that both dairy and livestock sectors possess vast potential for growth, value addition, and entrepreneurship if supported through the right policy interventions and sustained departmental efforts.
The meeting was attended by Additional Chief Secretary (ACS), Agriculture Production Department, Shailendra Kumar; Vice Chancellor, SKUAST-Jammu; Managing Directors of HADP and Dairy Development; Directors of Agriculture and Sheep Husbandry from both divisions; and other senior officers of the department.
Emphasizing the need to create replicable success stories to inspire wider public participation and entrepreneurship, Dulloo noted that J&K, being primarily a consumer state, offers a significant market for milk, mutton, and their processed products. He said the UT should focus not just on packaging and branding but also on scientific processing and value addition to develop high-demand products and generate sustainable livelihoods.
He encouraged local entrepreneurs to tap into the vast potential of the dairy and livestock sectors to create gainful employment opportunities.
Presenting a detailed overview, ACS Shailendra Kumar informed that dairy products form a staple part of the UT’s daily diet, while mutton consumption remains among the highest in the country — ensuring a strong and consistent market demand. The department, he added, has identified existing gaps and framed a roadmap to enhance both production and value addition in the coming years.
As per departmental data, J&K produces 28.75 lakh metric tonnes of milk annually, with a per capita availability of 577 grams per day, exceeding the national average of 471 grams. However, only about 4% of milk production is currently organized. The department aims to bring at least 20% of total production under the organized sector within the next 5–7 years.
To achieve this, APD plans to expand Artificial Insemination (AI) coverage, secure High Genetic Merit (HGM) bulls, establish facilities for sexed semen, and address fodder shortages through scientific feeding practices. Around 1,600 PashuSakhis (Maitris) have been engaged to provide AI services at the grassroots level, while two semen stations are being set up in the UT. Additionally, 40 HGM bulls are being procured from the USA, and milk processing and chilling units will be established in every district.
On the mutton front, the meeting was informed that J&K currently houses 43.68 lakh sheep and 22.5 lakh goats, producing around 370 lakh kilograms of meat and 80 lakh kilograms of wool annually, against a local demand of 545 lakh kilograms of meat.
To bridge this gap, the department is implementing advanced breeding technologies such as Embryo Transfer Technology (ETT) and Multiple Ovulation and Embryo Transfer (MOET) to accelerate genetic improvement. Plans are underway to establish Embryo Generation Labs with a target of producing 6,000 embryos annually, along with facilities for cryopreservation and ETT laboratories in each district. Capacity-building programmes for veterinarians and para-veterinarians are also being introduced to ensure effective on-ground implementation.
Commending the department for its proactive approach, Chief Secretary Dulloo directed officials to work in mission mode to transform the dairy and sheep husbandry sectors into key drivers of rural growth, employment, and economic sustainability in Jammu and Kashmir.
