The mutton and wool production being on rise in Jammu and Kashmir is good news. Union Minister of State for Cooperation and Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), B L Verma who recently concluded his 2-day visit to J&K discussed the potential for sheep rearing units with officials, who informed him that mutton and wool production in the Union Territory is on rise but still J&K is a net importer of meat and there is scope for further enhancing the production.
The unprocessed wool is sent outside J&K due to unavailability of wool processing industry in J&K and the breeders fetch poor prices for their unprocessed produce. The Minister took a note of it and directed the concerned officers to prepare and submit a proposal regarding setting up of a wool processing unit in J&K so that value addition can be accrued to the producers which will incentivize more people to take up sheep rearing.
The government needs to focus on the sheep rearing industry in Jammu and Kashmir as the UT has got a vast potential for it. This potential needs to be explored.
During the past three years the J&K administration has focused on various sectors and has developed them by suitable interventions and market linkages.
Mutton and wool have a huge demand in J&K. The Union Territory is a readymade market for both the products. The green pastures and meadows are present everywhere in Kashmir and ideal conditions are available for sheep rearing.
Setting up of the wool processing units in J&K and having a full-fledged sheep rearing industry can boost the economy of the entire region and can create many employment avenues for the unemployed youth.
According to official data compiled by the Sheep Husbandry Department in Kashmir around 22 lakh sheep are slaughtered in Kashmir every year on an average which roughly adds up to a whopping 2,10,00000 kg annual meat consumption in the region.
However, of the 22 lakh sheep slaughtered in the Valley, a meager 6.5 lakh sheep are raised locally of which the government subsidized sheep farms contribute 2.5 lakh kg of the total mutton consumption.
The Union Minister of State for Cooperation and Development has sought proposals from the J&K Government to set up wool processing units in the UT. If the Centre approves these units it would give a big boost to the woolen industry in Jammu and Kashmir.
Mutton, wool production on rise
