Srinagar Aug 08: Dairy farming has received a major boost over the last several years due to implementation of pro-farmer schemes in Jammu and Kashmir.
One such scheme is Integrated Dairy Development Scheme (IDDS) under which a farmer can set up a dairy farm unit of five cows with 50 percent subsidy by the government.
Under this scheme, a male beneficiary can get a subsidy of Rs 1.75 lakh while a female and Schedule Caste and Scheduled Tribe can get Rs 2 lakh for setting up a dairy farming unit of five cows. One can even avail subsidy for multiple units.
Shabir Ahmad, a youth from South Kashmir’s Shopian district, has set up three dairy farming units with five cows each in September 2021.
“I started dairy farming after researching online about this sector and got to know it has a huge potential,” he said.
Each day they produce 175 litres of milk with each litre selling @Rs 30 and making earnings of around Rs 1.5 lakh per month.
There are many such youths who have started their dairy farm units to earn their livelihood.
Asiya Jan, a girl from South Kashmir said they purchased five Holistein Friesan (HF) cows from Punjab for over four lakh for which the government gave them a subsidy of Rs 2 lakh in December 2020.
Since then Asiya along with her parents have been rearing cows and making their earnings.
“Each day, these cows give 80-100 litres of milk which we sell locally for Rs 35 each litre. We earn on average of Rs 3000 per day and make earnings of around Rs 90,000 per month,” she said.
Out of Rs 90,000, she said around Rs 50,000 cost goes on fodder and other expenses like medicines on animals thus making a profit of Rs 40,000 per month.
Asiya believes she would set up more such farms in the future and won’t look for government or any other job.
Being an agrarian region, the agriculture sector according to government figures contributes 16.18% to J&K’s GDP, of which 35% is contributed by the dairy sector which is one of the most important sectors and the vast population living in rural areas relies on dairy and livestock for their livelihood.
Figures of Animal Husbandry Department reveals that Kashmir produces 40 lakh litres of milk per day.
Therefore, improving the position of the dairy sector in Kashmir is directly proportional to improving the socio-economic condition of people. A government veterinary doctor said dairy farming has a huge potential. “This is largely done in two districts of South Kashmir, Pulwama and Shopian and has raised the income of farmers. Other districts are also picking up. Number of dairy animals is increasing across Kashmir. Even well qualified youth like PhD scholars are joining this sector,” he said.
