113 poultry projects to come up in valley

Srinagar, Mar 28: To boost poultry industry in the Kashmir valley where more than 90 per cent of birds are being imported for consumption, the Jammu and Kashmir government has decided to establish eight poultry projects at a cost of Rs 3.80 crore.

Of this, Rs 2.46 crore had already been released for Baramulla, Kupwara, Srinagar, Pulwama and Jammu projects, Minister for Agriculture and Cooperatives, Abdul Aziz Zargar said.

More than 3000 birds are consumed by the people daily in the valley. He said the state government had submitted 113 poultry cooperative projects to National Development Corporation (NDC) for its approval, estimated to cost Rs 22.60 crore.

Mr Zargar said the cooperative movement suffered a setback during the past two decades and the present government initiated numerous measures to bring this sector back on rails. ''Our land is fertile enough and people have potential to increase crop production,'' the minister said.

He directed the poultry department to be always ready to provide timely treatment to the poultry birds. ''We have to be self sufficient in mutton production which is possible only when we make coordinated efforts and utilise all our resources,'' he added.

UNI