2.72 crore kg mutton production recorded in JK

Srinagar, Oct 9: Producing all time high 2.72 crore kg of mutton locally, Jammu Kashmir is still importing sheep and goats worth millions of rupees every year from neighbouring states.

According to an estimate, as many as 5000 sheep and goat meat is being consumed daily in the valley alone during normal days and the number increases many fold during festival and marriage season.

An official statement issued here today, said during the last year annual mutton production in the state had touched all time high. Last year the state produced 2.72 crore kg of mutton locally.

Similarly, the production of wool was of the order of 67 lakh kg.

The annual milk yield in the state last year shot up to 15.46 lakh tonne fetching the farmers an attractive income of crore of rupees.

Nearly, 1.76 crore cattle were vaccinated against various diseases during the period while as 4.77 lakh cows were covered under the Artificial Insemination Programme to promote the cross-breed cattle.

The state, particularly Kashmir valley, mostly depend upon imports from the other states, particularly Rajasthan, Haryana and Delhi for meat.

Even during the recent turmoil on the Shri Amarnath land row, hundreds of vehicles carrying sheep and goats were arriving here daily under security cover along with the trucks with other essentials.

UNI