Azad Jammu & Kashmir government has evolved an integrated plan to raise the lifestyle of the farmers besides opening new vistas of employment in the livestock and dairy sector under the spirit to overcome the unemployment in the liberated territory, official sources said.
Bright and large-scale potentials to promote the livestock and dairy sector are already available in AJK, the sources told APP here Monday, adding that under the plan, special attention will be given for the breeding of better cattle heads to raise the production of milk and meat. These measures, across the liberated territory, would lead to improving the living standard of the farmers community already affiliated in the livestock and dairy field as well as their coming generations, they added.
The sources said the existing veterinary hospitals and the subordinate centres including 1 hospital and over 32 centres in Mirpur district are being enlarged to provide the required medical facilities and guidance for promoting the latest ideas of breeding of the cattle heads.
They further said the government is paying special attention for taking care of the animals through providing every possible facility to the farmers, attached with this sector. Over 85,000 cattle heads were immunised in Mirpur district during last 1 year, they informed. Besides, over 64,000 cattle heads were provided with medical treatment. About 125,000 slaughtered animals were inspected during the period before launching the meat in the market, they added.
At the same time, they maintained, experts have invited the farmers running the cattle farms to concentrate for the promotion of improved breed animals to increase their financial resources. The farmers have further been advised to use the medicines for the ailing animals through consulting the nearest veterinary surgeons or the Animal Husbandry Department where all required facilities are available. The veterinary experts have further advised the farmers to keep the ailing animals away of the normal cattle heads and consult the veterinary doctor close to their doorstep, they elaborated.
Meanwhile, general public possessing the cattle heads including goats, sheep, cows, buffaloes and hens etc for their domestic use have also been advised to maintain regular consultation with the local veterinary hospital for having time-to-time guidance for maintaining and improving the health of their livestock and their production, they concluded.