How Desert Scores Over Pastures?
Kashmir’s sheep husbandry department officials claim that Rajasthan has ample land resources where herdsmen rear huge flocks, something, they say, Kashmir lacks.
“You see, when this argument is being raised as how Rajasthan, which is an arid land produces huge livestock for mutton consumption, then everybody should realize that due to existing multi-faceted problems in valley, deserts dictate over us,” Dr Zahoor ul Haq, a technical officer in Srinagar’s sheep husbandry department, says.
“They have ample grazing lands out there in Rajasthan which we lack. Besides, our livestock is prone to diseases and thus have higher mortality rate compared to Rajasthan,” said Dr Zahoor.
According to officials in sheep husbandry, valley remains conducive for highland pasturing for four months only, while as in local terrains, pasturing is done for nine months. “During three months in winter, from November to February, the livestock is being sheltered indoors owing to extreme weather conditions. During that period, we rely on outside Mandis to meet our demands,” Dr Zahoor informs.
In Kashmir culling of local herd (choosing livestock for consumption) is done twice a year, first in May and June and then again in October. “On an average, we produce 30 per cent of mutton locally,” Dr Zahoor says.
Besides, more than 50 per cent of Jammu’s livestock produce also ends up in Kashmir market.
Interestingly, Kashmir locally produces sufficient mutton to meet the daily recommended requirements set by Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), an apex body on biomedical research. “As per ICMR guidelines, a person needs between 30-38 grams of meat daily, but we take much more than that, which forces us to remain dependent on outside markets,” Dr Zahoor informs.
Where do we stand?
Unlike other Indian states where livestock needs are taken care by animal husbandry department, Kashmir has a dedicated department for sheep.
Originally, sheep husbandry department was formed to meet the demand of wool. But as time changed and Kashmir’s appetite for mutton grew, the department too responded to change by focusing on mutton production.
“We are not supposed to fiddle with mutton production. Primarily, we are meant to raise elite hybrids in our farms that are used in fields for the upgradation of a local livestock,” Dr Zahoor says.
There is one more stumbling block! Since there is a blanket ban on importation of livestock by central government, the officials at sheep husbandry fear that the production can’t be increased without scientific intervention in existing livestock.
“If we have to be self dependent in mutton production, then we need vertical growth, not horizontal one,” Dr Riyaz Rasool, head of technical section in Srinagar’s sheep husbandry department, says. “Increasing number of herds is not our priority; we need to increase the weight of our livestock for increasing local production. But in absence of importation, it doesn’t appear materialistic option.”
The department has thrown open 550 sheep units in last four years, besides state government has started an employment generation scheme for unemployed educated youth who wish to establish mini sheep farms.
Bottom-line!
The source of major supply lines of mutton lie outside Jawahar tunnel. Kashmir still does not have its own Mandi. This lacuna is primarily fostering illegal mutton trade in valley.
Middlemen buy sheep from outside the state for just Rs 1500 a piece and sell the same in Kashmir for around Rs 5000. “There is huge profit margin in livestock business. It is the end user i.e. consumer who ultimately suffers,” said an official.
