By Ishfaq Jamal
NEWLY established dairy units under the integrated dairy development scheme of the Animal Husbandry department are changing the face of dairy farming for the first time in Jammu and Kashmir . A large chunk of population used to rear local and nondescript cattle with very less production had thus rendered animal husbandry to only subsistence farming. Cross breeding program of the animal husbandry department through artificial insemination resulted in the induction of quality germplasm thus enhancing genetic potential and milk production.
Locally produced milk and milk products offered good market opportunities to producers. However, only certain communities took dairying as an economic enterprise and they too mostly adopted traditional dairying techniques. Therefore, beyond a certain limit, dairying couldn’t get more profitable for them.
Modern dairy farming is both a science as well as an art and only aspiring, educated and talented youth can change the face of dairy farming.
Covid-19 and its ensuing economic impact had affected business sectors the worst. Woes of small businesses are still deepening and active employment has been reduced. Economic slump is acting as a great obstacle.
In these bleak times for the economy, dairy farming is providing a fresh hope to farmers and youngsters alike. The integrated dairy development scheme of the Animal Husbandry Department is providing 50% subsidy on the establishment of dairy units, milk collection and processing units, pasteurization and packaging units, bulk milk coolers, paneer/khoya/butter/Cheese/ ice-cream making machines, milking machines and milk parlors, milk ATMs and milk vans for transportation of milk. Support for transportation of processed milk products via air to any place in India in addition to biogas plants and Vermicompost units for environmental management of dairy farms is also being provided.
Hundreds of small to large dairy units have been setup in last two years under IDDS scheme of Animal Husbandry department and they are providing employment opportunities, surplus milk and milk products production and food security across the UT. This year, the department has reduced the size of a single dairy unit from 5 cows to 2 cows thus making the eligibility criteria easy for farmers. It just takes only a month to conceive the idea of dairy farming and then getting right into the process.
Despite all the positives, marketing remains a big challenge. The surplus milk production through these newly established farms lacks an organized procurement chain. Except JKMPCL, there aren’t many big players in the market who could procure raw milk as per the production scenario and provide remunerative prices to the producers. With the increase in feed and fodder prices, the input costs have also largely increased but the procurement rate of milk from farmers has barely increased. In Kashmir, farmers are mostly dependent on the market for feed and fodder, this further adds to the input cost on milk and milk products. Not getting a fair price on the sale of milk may prove to be an obstacle in the expansion of the dairy sector which can otherwise do very well.
Though the government has taken some measures to help with the marketing by providing packaging, processing and transportation facilities in this scheme, commercial dairy farm operators need to form local cooperatives, self-help groups and FPOs and set up their own packaging and processing units which can diversify and create a competitive market. The sustainability of the commercial dairy sector under prevailing inflation and economic slump will largely depend upon an organized and competitive procurement chain, value addition and a diversified market for milk and milk products.
Views expressed in the article are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent the editorial stance of Kashmir Observer
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