Rs.40 Crore Outlay Allocated for Sheep & Dairy Farms in Jammu & Kashmir

The Jammu and Kashmir Tribal Affairs department has set aside Rs.40 crore for dairy farms and sheep farms in tribal areas, with an additional Rs.15 crore set aside for mini sheep farms, according to an official spokesman on Tuesday. 

The information was released at a meeting chaired by Shahid Iqbal Choudhary, Secretary, Tribal Affairs Department, to review progress in various livelihood initiatives and to formulate a plan for the fiscal year 2022-23 in collaboration with the Animal and Sheep Husbandry Departments, according to a spokesman. 

He stated that the progress on the development of mini Sheep Farms, Milk Villages, Milk Chilling Plants, Dairy Farms, and tents for migrant populations had been examined. 

Sectoral plan proposals for the next fiscal year were also addressed, allowing for the prompt commencement of developmental activities at the beginning of the year, according to the spokesperson, who added that the department has set aside Rs.40 crore for dairy farms and sheep farms in tribal villages. 

Around 750 mini sheep farms have been built in several districts throughout Jammu and Kashmir, including Reasi, Doda, Kathua, Samba, Rajouri, and Poonch in Jammu, and Kupwara, Anantnag, Kulgam, Pulwama, Ganderbal, Srinagar, and Shopian in Kashmir. 

Meanwhile, Phase II of the scheme would encompass Kishtwar, Udhampur, Ramban, and Jammu in the Jammu division, as well as Baramulla, Budgam, and Bandipora in the valley. An outlay of Rs.15 crore has been earmarked for mini Sheep Farms, the spokesman said. 

Jammu and Kashmir Tribal Affairs department's objective is to empower Scheduled Tribe Population through life skills, education.  

• Providing scholarship for educational upliftment of Scheduled Tribe Population. 

• Providing social security to elderly people and providing residential facility for Scheduled Tribe students in the form of hostels. 

• Providing vocational training to Scheduled Tribes in order to improve their abilities to earn a dignified living