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Chapter 8 Animal Husbandry

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CHAPTER - 8

ANIMAL HUSBANDRY

Man-animal association has been continuing since ages. Animals had

been providing mobility to man in all parts of the world till the advent of

technological revolution which ultimately culminated in the development of

motorised transport. Livestock play a vital role in the lives of hundreds of

millions of people. They supply not only meat, milk and by-product as they do

in the industrialized world but also 85% of draft power used in the world’s

agriculture; in places such as India and Pakistan, 40 to 60% of all goods taken

to market are transported by camel, donkeys, and oxen1. There can be no

division of opinion on the fact that only through activities under animal

husbandry development can the standard of human nutrition be raised to the

optimum level by enhancing production of animal proteins and other foods of

animal origin which are in great demand due to the rise in the standard of food

habits, physical fitness and to combat disease intrusions. In places where

agriculture cannot be harnessed to its optimum potential because of certain

climatic constraints the farming of livestock becomes more significant. It

provides an alternative source of income and engages a considerable section of

the population which otherwise has to bear the wrath of unemployment.

Furthermore, for pastoral societies livestock are also symbols of wealth and

prestige and serve for payment of a bride price, for inheritance purposes, as

insurance against harvest failure or catastrophic drought, and as a source of

easily cashable investment capital.2

The history of animal husbandry in the state of Jammu and Kashmir is as

old as that of its civilization. Throughout its history the state witnessed the

continuous influx of various types of cattle which ultimately resulted in the

1 Gerald M ward and Thomas M. Sutherford, “Animals as energy source in third world”, in

Science New Series, vol. 208, No. 4444 ( May 9, 1990) pp-570-574, American Association for advancement of Science .

2 Ibid.


220

development of its non-descript type of cattle.3 The Aryans are presumed to

have brought with them the animals with white body coat; the Sindhi cattle are

considered to have been introduced by the Pathans whereas Sikhs are believed

to be responsible for bringing in Hariana and Sahiwal cattle.4 Walter Lawrence

describes the non-descript Kashmiri cattle as small, hardy and conservative in

habits, superior in quality in the tracts around Wular [Lake] and in the North-

west of the valley than those in the South. The superior cows were locally called

as parimgao and the special features they possessed were attributed to the

presence of Punjabi blood. 5

Being agro-climatically and topographically suited to the development

of livestock, which holds importance that cannot be ignored without ignoring

human welfare, and owing to the presence of lush green pastures and meadows,

plenty of water bodies, common grazing grounds in and around the villages,

and limited arable land, livestock in Jammu and Kashmir had been serving as a

reliable source of subsistence from the very early times.6 They played a very

vital role in the economic development of the state and formed an integral part

of the state agriculture; about 75% population of the state of Jammu and

Kashmir is still dependent on agriculture which is the main occupation7.

Besides food and nutrition, sizeable contribution to the total milk production

of the state had been made by the cow;8 sheep provided valuable manure for

improving agricultural productivity. The skin of the sheep had a high

commercial value and the quality of their wool varied from fine to coarse. Goat

hair had been used for the centuries for the making of ropes and the excreta of

3 Government of Jammu and Kashmir, Fifty Years of Animal Husbandry in Kashmir, 1947-1998

(Srinagar: Animal Husbandry Department, Kashmir Division), p. 1. 4 F. A. Kaloo, “Animal Husbandry in Retrospect,” in Fifty Years of Animal Husbandry in

Kashmir, op. cit., p. 150 5 Walter R Lawrence, The Valley of Kashmir (Srinagar: Gulshan Publishers, 2002), p. 358.

6 Government of Jammu and Kashmir, Report of the Committee on Economic Reforms for

Jammu and Kashmir, 1998, p. 133. 7 Government of Jammu and Kashmir, Jammu and Kashmir Economy Performance Analysis,

2007-2008 (Jammu/Srinagar: Directorate of Economics and Statistics), p. 42. 8 71.31% of the total milk production of the state was contributed by cow during the year

2004, S. A. Wani, 90th

Annual Conference of the Indian Economic Association.


221

goat were used as a valuable fertilizer.9The rearing of animals in the valley had

an additional importance of providing drought power to the peasant. It goes

without saying that even after technological revolution and mechanization of

the world agriculture, the state of Jammu and Kashmir continued to be

dependent on animal power for various agriculture related activities. The

working bullocks continued to carry on their back the whole structure of hill

agriculture and the use of tractors remained confined to the plain areas of the

valley whereas the karewas had been exclusively dependent on animal power

for ploughing and transportation10. The importance of working animals to the

state agriculture can be gauged from the land and plough ratio given in table 6.1

below:

Table 8.1

District wise Land: Plough Ratio in Jammu and Kashmir

District

Net Area sown

Lakh Hectare

(1976-77)

No. of Ploughs

Lakhs

Availability of

land per Plough

(Hectares)

Anantnag 1.34 1.12 1: 1.20

Baramulla 1.34 1.63 1: 0.82

Srinagar 0.80 0.57 1: 1.41

Ladakh 0.18 0.15 1:1.18

Doda 0.49 0.60 1:0.82

Jammu 0.94 0.98 1:0.97

Kathua 0.70 0.25 1:2.84

Poonch 0.25 0.24 1:1.04

Rajouri 0.42 0.41 1:1.02

Udhampur 0.65 0.58 1:1.1

State 7.11 6.53 1:1.09

Source: Agricultural Census Report, 1976-77

9 Excreta of 5000 goats, produced in one night are considered to be sufficient for one hectare

of agriculture land as a valuable fertilizer. Government of India, State Development Report: Jammu and Kashmir (New Delhi: Planning Commission of India, 2003), p. 77.

10 Techno- Economic Survey of Jammu and Kashmir (New Delhi: National Council of Applied

Economic Research, 1969), p. 40.


222

However, notwithstanding the fact that cattle rearing had been in

voyage in Kashmir from the very early times and had served as an important

secondary source of income to its people but the history of organised animal

farming in this part of the world is relatively not an old one. Following the

recommendations of the Royal Commission for Agriculture (1929), appointed

under the chairmanship of Lord Linlithgow who later on became the viceroy of

India, the Dogra state took some measures towards organised cattle farming in

the state.11 But, initially most of the efforts of the state remained confined to the

development of its [Dogras] own livestock population and that of its close

associates. Farms were set-up for the cattle under personal use of the

Maharaja– a cattle farm was established at Shalteng near Srinagar which

maintained Sindhi and some local cows and bulls,12 another private farm with

some imported cows and bulls of ayershire breed was established at

cheshmashi13. Civil Veterinary Department with two livestock inspectors was

established primarily to provide veterinary care for mules and horses of the

Maharaja’s cavalry. The network of dispensaries setup in the state however, was

not meant for the overall development of the poor man’s cattle but was to treat

the transport animals and detect glanders to avoid import of this disease into

the state from Punjab. Furthermore, the primary objective of the department

remained health care whereas livestock breeding activities remained restricted

to only a few selected places.14.

It was with the establishment of two breeding farms one at Srinagar and

other at Jammu, in the late 1930’s, that the cattle of the state started showing

some qualitative improvements.15The main purpose of the establishment of

such farms was the multiplication and production of bulls for distribution

among the rural masses, far and wide in the state, for the improvement of the

11 F. A. Kaloo, op. cit., p. 1.

12 Ibid.

13 Ibid. Twelve dispensaries were set up during 1920-30s in all and out of these 6 were named

as Road dispensaries and were located on Jhelum Valley Road now in Pakistan occupied Kashmir and Banihal cart road

14 Ibid.

15 Ibid. p. 3. The farms were established at Belicharana in Jammu and Shalteng Srinagar and

were fully functional by 1938-39.


223

their cattle.16 A premium bull scheme was launched in the state whereby, the

bulls were entrusted to agents picked up from among progressive farmers in

each village.17 The agents maintained them at a maintenance paid by the

government and used them for breeding.18However, despite these efforts the

state could not witness any headway in the development of livestock and

majority of the cattle continued to be of non–descript and inferior quality,

resulting in the very insignificant increase in the production of animals. It was

for this reason that the animal products like milk, eggs, meat etc. were available

only to the rich people, keeping the nutrition standard of the poor low.

The development of livestock received ample impetus in the post-1947

period. In view of the fact that the state owing to its topography and peripheral

nature had a very limited potential for industrialization, the government

emphasised on the development of agriculture and its allied activities.

However, since agriculture could not accommodate the growing population

therefore, the development of livestock became more important for providing

the basic necessities of life to the people of the land.19Nevertheless, the

development of this neglected sector of the state economy became more

important for ameliorating the conditions of Bakerwals, Gujjars and Chopans as

these communities were exclusively dependent on sheep and goat rearing for

their livelihood.20

To ensure the overall development of this livestock sector the

government transformed the Civil Veterinary Department into Animal

Husbandry Department. The change in the nomenclature of the department

highlights the fact that the activities of the department had increased manifold.

Two cattle breeding farms were also set up one each at Srinagar

(Chashmashahi) and the other at Jammu (Belicharana), the old farm at

Shalteng had to wind up and its equipments’ were transferred to the

16

Ibid. 17

Ibid. 18

Ibid. 19

State Development Report: Jammu and Kashmir, op. cit., p. 74. 20

Government of Jammu and Kashmir, Report of the Development Review Committee, Part V: Agriculture and Irrigation, 1977, p. 11.


224

Chashmashahi farm.21 The up-gradation of cattle through mating with local

selected bulls was given up and the Hariana and Sindhi breeds of cattle were

selected for mating purpose in the Jammu and the Kashmir divisions

respectively.22 During the First Five Year plan, in addition to the 12 Tehsil units

and 42 sub-units, a mobile veterinary laboratory at Jammu and one mobile

veterinary unit and 2 artificial insemination centres were setup at Srinagar.23

Through these measures the breeding of cattle through artificial insemination

in the state became possible for the first time in 1954.24

Furthermore, a programme of castration was launched in the state to

remove the less productive and high consuming cattle. Through the efforts of

the state livestock rearing became integral for the sustainability of the economy

of the state, contributing a significant proportion to the state domestic product

and served as a reliable source of subsistence.25 In 1961-62, animal husbandry

contributed an income of Rs 797 lakhs, which amounted to 8.5% of the net

income of the state26 while as in 2006-07 it contributed about 10% to the state

domestic product.27 The livestock sector not only engaged a sizeable part of the

working force in animal rearing but also in processing, transportation, and sale

of animal products.28 The importance of agriculture and animal husbandry

sectors to the state economy can be gauged from the fact that about 79% of the

rural population in 2004 was dependent on the income generated by these two

sectors.29 However, it is pertinent to mention that livestock rearing in Jammu

and Kashmir was more dependent on the status of its own Common Property

21

Fifty Years of Animal Husbandry, op. cit., p. 3. 22

Ibid. p. 3. 23

Government of Jammu and Kashmir, First Five Year Plan, Department of Planning (Srinagar: Department (Srinagar: Department of Information).

24 Fifty Years of Animal Husbandry, op. cit., p. 7.

25 Report of the Committee on Economic Reforms for Jammu and Kashmir, 1998, op. cit., p.

133. 26

Techno- Economic Survey of Jammu and Kashmir, op. cit., p. 39. 27

Government of Jammu and Kashmir, Economic Review of Jammu and Kashmir, 2006-07 (Srinagar: Directorate of Economics and Statistics, Planning and Development Department), p.100.

28 90

th Annual Conference of Indian Economic Association: The Jammu and Kashmir

Economy, p. 210. 29

State Development Report, op. cit. p. 74.


225

Resources [CPR] viz. village pastures, community forests, waste lands, village

ponds, tanks etc than on the import of complacent inputs from outside. This

was so because Jammu and Kashmir besides being mountainous lies at the

periphery of India– multiplying the costs of transportation–, thereby, making

livestock rearing through the import of feed and fodder an economically

unviable. It is, therefore, not for nothing that voices are being raised in the

state from different quarters regarding the conservations of common property

resources.

Livestock Population and Development

The state of Jammu and Kashmir has different types of livestock, the

important being cow, buffalo, goat, sheep, rabbit, yak, etc. Since 1947 there had

been a sharp increase in the livestock population of the state. The livestock

population increased from 32.19 lakh in 1951-52 to 87.07 lakh in 1987-88

indicating an increase of 170 per cent. The specie–wise livestock population in

the State from 1951 to 1997 is tabulated as under:

Table 8.2

Quinquennial Livestock Census (Figs. in Lakhs)

Year Total

cattle

Total

buffaloes

Sheep Goats Horses &

Ponies

Other

livestock

Total

livestock

1951 13.19 3.05 9.78 4.87 0.59 0.72 32.19

1956 17.57 3.74 14.65 8.15 0.79 0.18 45.08

1961 18.40 1.01 11.62 5.77 0.69 0.34 40.05

1966 17.90 4.28 11.51 6.05 0.65 0.36 41.79

1972 20.56 4.92 10.72 5.69 0.60 0.33 42.85

1977 21.38 4.99 12.16 6.91 0.69 0.43 46.58

1982 23.25 5.63 19.09 10.04 1.27 0.54 59.82

1987 14.60 0.52 12.41 3.41 0.61 0.31 31.86

1992 30.50 7.32 29.47 17.66 1.95 0.17 87.07

1997 31.754 7.878 31.695 18.095 1.412 0.799 91.633

Source: i) Fifty Years of Animal Husbandry in Kashmir ii) Economic Review of Jammu and Kashmir, 2006-07


226

From the table above it is very much clear that the livestock population

of the state increased by about 180% during the period between 1951 and 1997.

The figures mentioned in the table make it amply clear that cattle, sheep, goat,

and buffalo had been the important animals reared in the state. However, it is

worth to mention that the density of livestock per sq.km of the state had not

been uniform, the variations being the result of a variety of factors Viz. area

under Permanent pastures and other grazing lands, Net Sown Area and the

alternative employment opportunities provided by the region/district.

According to the Livestock Census Report 1977, the state had 3009 cattle

available for one thousand hectares of the net cultivated area [approximately 3

cattle per hectare] which increased to 4313 cattle per thousand hectares of

cultivated land in 1997-98.30 Furthermore, it is worth to mention that the

number of livestock per 1000 human population as per census 2003 in the state

of Jammu and Kashmir was 926 animals while as it was only 457 at all India

level, hence reflecting the potential and importance of the sector to the state

economy. The Average livestock per household as per the census figures of 2001

works out to six animals per household for Jammu and Kashmir State as

compared to about three animals per house hold at the national level.31 The

inter-district variations in livestock density of the state during the period under

reference can be gauged from table [3] which shows the livestock density

variations for the year 2003.

30

Calculated on the basis of the data shown in: Digest of Statistics, 2004 (Directorate of Economics and Statistics, Planning and Development Department), p. 83 and Economic Review of Jammu and Kashmir 2006-07, op. cit., p. 101.

31 Livestock census 2001 vide Economic Review of Jammu and Kashmir-2006-07, op. cit., p. 101


227

Table 8.3

District-wise Livestock Density in the State of Jammu and Kashmir for

the year 2003

S.No. District Livestock per sq.km of area 2003

1 Anantnag 169

2 Pulwama 264

3 Srinagar 115

4 Budgam 240

5 Baramulla 151

6 Kupwara 133

7 Leh 9

8 Kargil 18

9 Jammu 242

10 Udhampur 355

11 Doda 129

12 Kathua 280

13 Rajouri 499

14 Poonch 484

J&K State 98

Source: Livestock censuses, Vide Economic Review of Jammu and Kashmir 2006-07.

As shown in the table above the density of livestock was highest in

district Rajouri followed by Doda from the Jammu region and in Pulwama

followed by Budgam from the Kashmir division. Besides other factors the high

density of livestock in the said districts could be attributed to the greater

availability of permanent pastures and other grazing lands in the

districts.32Moreover, the distribution of livestock in the state also differed in

different zones of the state. For example, the goat was mainly distributed in

Ladakh, Gurez, Karnah, and the hills of Baramulla. There were different kinds

of sheep breeds like Baderwahi, Poonchi, Romboullet (in Jammu region),

32

Poonch from Jammu and Pulwama from Kashmir had the largest area of land under Permanent pastures and other grazing lands. For more details see the Digest of Statistics, 2004-05, op. cit.,


228

Karnahi, and Gurezi (Kashmir region), Changthangi and some local breeds

(Ladakh).The Kashmir region had about 55% of sheep population followed by

Jammu (about 29%) and Ladakh (about 8%). Yaks are chiefly confined to the

Ladakh region.33 The district wise distribution of the cattle in Kashmir division

as per the census of 1982 is shown as under:

Table 8.4

District-wise Distribution of Cattle in Kashmir

Source: Hand Book of Animal Husbandry Statistics, Department of Animal Husbandry, Kashmir Division, J&K.

Notwithstanding that there had been an appreciable increase in the

population of livestock in the state since 1947 but there is no denying the fact

that most of the indigenous cattle of Kashmir were of ‘non-descript’ type with

poor genetic make-up which considerably impeded the enhancement of

production capacity of the cattle. In 1961 there were 4.24 lakh milch animals

and 5.73 lakh working animals in the state, however, due to the lack of

adequate feed and fodder resources, poor veterinary facilities, inferior breeds 33

State Development Report, op. cit., p. 75.

S.No. District Cattle

Male Female Young stock Total

1 Srinagar 21318 36812 36408 94538

2 Budgam 36467 50374 56827 142868

3 Anantnag 64945 101157 108357 274459

4 Pulwama 42737 61302 74935 178974

5 Baramulla 66584 89321 84350 240225

6 Kupwara 41138 46837 86479 174454

7 Leh 2189 12122 5474 19785

8 Kargil 629 957 5697 18283

Total Kashmir Division 276007 409882 457727 1143617


229

their quality was poor34. No doubt the sector received generous financial

assistance from the state government as and a number of schemes were

launched by the concerned departments regarding the development of

livestock but there had not been any substantial transformation in this sector.

This was so because the entire exercise of programme implementation in the

livestock sector had been centred round Trial-error Abrogation approach which

resulted in the wastage of resources.35 The following table given below shows

the details of the financial assistance the sector received under different five

year plans:

Table 8.5

[Budgetary provisions and expenditure]

S. No. Plan/year Provision Expenditure

1 First Five Year Plan 24.38 22.16

2 Second Five Year Plan 74.50 47.51

3 Third Five Year Plan 124.94 96.86

4 Plan Holiday

i)1966-67

ii)1967-68

iii)1968-69

58.00

60.78

76.00

25.31

42.65

42.89

5 Fifth Five Year Plan 570 433.86

6 Sixth Five Year Plan 641.48 637.55

7 Seventh Five Year Plan 563.00 746.48

8 Eighth Five Year Plan 1600.00 1581.00

9 Ninth Five Year Plan 4800.00

Source: Five Year Plan Documents, Department of Planning and Development, Govt. of J&K.

34

Techno-Economic Survey of Jammu and Kashmir, op. cit., P. 164. 35

Report of the Committee on Economic Reforms of Jammu and Kashmir, op. cit., p. 133


230

The major livestock development programmes launched in the state

after 1947 were:

1. Up-gradation of local breeds: This programme was launched during the

first five year plan. Under this programme the department started cattle

breeding farms one at Chashmashahi Kashmir and second at Belicharana

Jammu with an aim of producing breeding bulls to be stationed at hospitals

and dispensaries’ for the up-gradation of the local cattle36. As an extension

of “National Policy on Improvement of cattle” artificial insemination

technique was introduced in the state though on a modest basis and

insemination centres were established at Srinagar and Jammu.

2. Introduction of new breeds and key village scheme: Under this

programme, launched in the state during the first five year plan, the up-

gradation of the local cattle through mating with locally selected bulls was

given up and Hariana and Sindhi breeds of cattle were selected for mating

purpose in the divisions of Jammu and Kashmir divisions respectively.

Villages containing a population of more than 500 breed-able cows and

buffaloes were brought under key village scheme whereby Sindhi and

Hariani cattle were used for breeding37. The scheme was based on the

principle of improved breeding, balanced feeding, scientific management

and prompt disease control.38 Under the same local scrub bulls were

castrated and an attempt was made to maintain records of breeding,

feeding, milk production and incidence of disease. During the second five

year plan the key village scheme got further expansion and natural mating

was replaced by artificial insemination using semen from red Sindhi bulls.

During the year 1961-62, 5600 inseminations were made and 4200 births

recorded, however, the Sindhi breed introduced under the key village

36

F. A. Kaloo, Fifty Years of Animal Husbandry in Kashmir, op. cit., p. 4. 37

F. A. Kaloo, “Development of Livestock in Jammu and Kashmir: A Retrospect” in Kashvet: Kashmir Veterinarian, A Quarterly Technical Journal of Animal Husbandry Department Kashmir, Vol. I, No.1, 1991, p. 13.

38 F. A. Kaloo, Fifty Years of Animal Husbandry in Kashmir, op. cit., p. 5.


231

scheme for up-gradation of local cattle failed to gain popularity with the

farmers as its performance was not at all impressive.39

3. Hill Area Cattle Development Programme: This scheme was started in

1964 with an objective to improve the cattle of the hilly areas. It was almost

the replica of Key village scheme. Under the scheme jersey rather than red

Sindhi breed was used for the up-gradation of the local bulls.40

4. Intensive Cattle Development Programme: The Intensive Cattle

Development programme was launched in the state in the year 1968-69.

Under the scheme two Intensive Cattle Development Projects were set up in

the milk shed areas of Jammu and Kashmir. Four Regional Cattle

Development blocks were set up under each ICDP and each Regional Cattle

Development block covered 25 centres.41 Superior quality of germ-plasm was

supplied to the centres from the regional centres.42 Through this scheme

the department of animal husbandry got engaged in the genetic

transformation of livestock. A massive cross breeding programme was

launched in the state as a part of the National policy of cross-breeding of

the local cattle with the exotic germ-plasm of jersey breed which was

adopted as a suitable breed for cross breeding /up-grading of the cattle at

the national level. In some pockets where cross breeding through jersey

blood had been introduced over the years and large numbers of cross bred

animals of jersey were available, the second thrust was given to the

maintenance and sustenance of Holstein Friesian crosses subjected to the

availability of fodder in adequate quantity for maintaining and sustenance

of the Holstein crosses.43The introduction of jersey breed initially met some

resistance from the illiterate farming community and a cross bred jersey calf

borne through artificial insemination was axed to death at Bugam 39

Ibid. p. 5. 40

Ibid. 41

Ibid. 42

Government of Jammu and Kashmir, Kashvet: Kashmir Veterinarian, a quarterly technical journal of Animal Husbandry Department, 1992, p. 13.

43 Government of Jammu and Kashmir, Annual Administration Report, 1988-89 (Srinagar:

Directorate of Animal Husbandry Department), p. 4.


232

Anantnag.44 There was a rumour that the jersey breed was a cross between a

cow and a pig, therefore, the people justified the recourse of axing the cross

and denouncing the said technique. However, during the fourth five year

plan the projects covered population of 2.5 lakhs cattle and buffaloes. The

schemes had provided employment to farmers and livestock owners who

had taken to dairy farming as their supplementary occupation45. The

castration of scrub bulls was an essential component of the intensive cattle

development programme. However, the task was extremely difficult as the

illiterate farming community often reacted violently against it and police

intervention was sought at times. During the fourth five year plan the

scheme was extended to the areas which were uncovered earlier on. The key

village scheme and Hill cattle development scheme were subsequently

wound up and merged with the ICDP. Moreover, during the 6th five year

plan, two frozen semen banks each at Jammu and Kashmir were established

with the assistance of Danish International Development Agency

(Denmark).The frozen semen banks made it possible to extend artificial

insemination facilities to mountainous areas and even those which

remained cut off during the winters. 46

5. Special Livestock Production Programme: The special livestock

programme was launched by the Govt. Of India, Ministry of Agriculture

during the 5th five year plan on the basis of recommendations of National

commission on Agriculture (1976). The programme aimed at organizing and

developing a comprehensive scheme for, breeding, nutrition and health

cover, among the Small/Marginal farmers (SF &MF) and Agricultural

labourers47.

44

Fifty Years of Animal Husbandry, op. cit., p. 5. 45

Government of Jammu and Kashmir, Fifth Five Year Plan (1974-79), Department of Planning and Development, p. 79.

46 Kashvet: Kashmir Veterinarian, 1992, op. cit., p. 13.

47 During the 5

th Five Year Plan it was proposed to import Holstein Friesian and jersey

pedigreed stock to provide breeding bulls for the intensive cattle development projects and other areas; Fifth Five Year Plan, op. cit., p. 80.


233

During the 5th and the 6th five year plans 183 districts in the country were

brought under the scheme with tangible results evidenced by increasing

availability of essential commodities of human consumption like milk, eggs,

thereby improving the nutritional status of the people besides, generating

subsidiary occupation and income to the beneficiaries48. In the state of Jammu

and Kashmir the scheme was launched in the year 1977-78 with the assistance

of the Central Govt. In the beginning three districts Jammu, Baramulla and

Kathua were brought under the scheme, however, district Kupwara was also

brought under the scheme immediately.49 The main aim of the programme was

the up-liftment of rural masses, 75 percent of which comprised of small

/marginal farmers and Agricultural labourers.50 In order to broaden the scope

of the programme for the benefit of the weaker sections of the rural masses the

nomenclature of the programme was changed to Special Livestock Breeding

Programme to cover non-IRDP beneficiaries belonging to the categories of

small/marginal farmers and agricultural labourers. The programme whose

components were rearing of female cross-bred calves and establishment of

poultry units on 50:50 matching grants51 continued during the 7th Plan as well.

The basic feature of the programme was that the cross bred female calves

generated through the programme should be given cattle feed for proper

growth from 3rd month of age to 32nd month of age as per a standard scale52.

The level of subsidy on feed was 66.50% for marginal farmers and agricultural

labourers and 50% for small farmers53. Similarly in case of the poultry sector the

National Council of Applied Research through its 1969 Techno-Economic Survey

of Jammu and Kashmir Report had recommended that “efforts should be made

48

Government of Jammu and Kashmir, Annual Administration Report, 1987-88 (Srinagar: Directorate of Animal Husbandry Department) p. 21.

49 Government of Jammu and Kashmir, Annual plan 1979-80, Vol. I., Planning and

Development Department, Chapter, “Agriculture and Allied Services”. 50

Annual Administration Report, 1987-88, op. cit., p. 21. 51

A. A. Shaw, “Poultry Development in Kashmir” in Kashmir Veterinarians: A Quarterly Technical Journal of Animal Husbandry Department, Jammu and Kashmir State, Vol.1. No. 1 Jan-March 1991, p. 8.

52 Ibid.

53 Ibid. p. 7.


234

to encourage setting up of private poultry farms with 200 birds and above.

Assistance to the breeders in the form of subsidy and loan on equipment

should be restricted to regular poultry farms. Also the work of up-grading local

birds by introducing Leghorn and Rhode Island Red varieties should be

extended to such farms.”54 Therefore, poultry units with 100-200 birds were

established and the beneficiaries under the programme were provided subsidy -

33% to marginal farmers and agricultural labourers and 25% to small farmers,

on capital investment only.55 However, it is worth mentioning that the poultry

programme was not as successful as the calf rearing programme because only

units with egg type birds were proposed to be established initially which could

not be done in a big way due to the climatic conditions, overall shortage of

balanced poultry feed and its high prices, resulting into an overall unfavourable

economy of the said egg type units. The programme was later on diversified

and broiler and duck units were included in it56.The feed was manufactured

through the Agro-Industries Development Corporation Limited.57

6. Promotion of superior quality fodder programme: Inadequate fodder

resources of the state had been a serious constraint in the development of

livestock in the state. Highlighting the importance of fodder development

the Techno-Economic Survey Report, 1969 recommended “that the rights of

grazing in the forest areas need to be redefined, the grazing lands and the

pastures should be enclosed and the system of rotational grazing should

replace the existing system of uncontrolled and unregulated grazing, area

under pastures and grazing lands should be increased, the system of stall

feeding should be popularised on a mass scale and fodder crops should be

cultivated under irrigated conditions.”58 The Development Review

Committee, 1977, had the similar type of remarks. It suggested that the

deficiency of fodder could be met through a number of ways– introduction

54

Techno-Economic Survey of Jammu and Kashmir, op. cit., p. 164. 55


Ibid. p. 24. 57

Fifth Five Year Plan, op. cit., p. 81. 58

Techno-Economic Survey of Jammu and Kashmir, op. cit., p. 164.


235

of fodder crops in paddy lands, fodder production in orchard areas,

improvement of highland and alpine pastures, release of community

Kahcharia areas from the encroachers and utilisation of agricultural and

industrial wastes.59 In light of the recommendations a separate wing was set

up during the 5th Five Year Plan to promote cultivation of superior quality

fodder varieties by the farmers. Under the scheme seed kits were distributed

among the farmers at subsidised rates/costs.60 A coordinated programme

was launched for the development of Alpine pastures and grazing areas and

stepping up of search for evolving suitable grass and fodder crop seeds for

winter cultivation. Demonstration plots were proposed to be laid to induce

the farmers to raise fodder crops in addition to cereals and other

commercial crops.61 However, no serious thought has been given to develop

rich and quick growing varieties of fodder on high mountain meadows and

barren slopes.62

7. Mass Vaccination programme: With the introduction and incorporation

of exotic cross breeding programme the productivity of the animals had

increased, but at the same time due to strain of higher production,

susceptibility to diseases also increased, therefore, the department of

animal husbandry established a separate wing for disease investigation and

production of biological products like vaccine and sera. Accordingly, the

institution of Animal health cum biological products was set up at Zakoora

Kashmir to conduct research on various types of animal diseases, their

prevention and control.63 The programme of mass vaccination conducted

for specific and scheduled diseases in areas where such diseases were

reported to have occurred and had remained endemic for such diseases

became possible only with the establishment of the institute. The institute

59

Report of the Development Review Committee Jammu and Kashmir, op. cit., p. 12. 60

Government of Jammu and Kashmir, Jammu and Kashmir: Fifty Years (Srinagar: Department of Information, 1998), p. 331.

61 Fifth Five Year Plan, op. cit., p. 81.

62 Report of the Committee on Economic Reforms of Jammu and Kashmir, op. cit., p. 134.

63 Annual Administrative Report 1988-89, op. cit., p. 6.


236

undertook the manufacturing of some quantity of bacterial vaccines to meet

the demand of the field .The department set up an anti-Rabies vaccine

production unit at Jammu which besides producing Anti-Rabies vaccine for

use in livestock also produced Anti-Rabies vaccine for human use.64 In

addition to the locally produced vaccines, vaccines were also procured from

other Govt /semi Govt institutions from outside the state for the vaccination

of the cattle.

8. Poultry Development programme: Poultry Development has an excellent

potential in the state as majority of the population is non-vegetarian.

Through the efforts of the Animal Husbandry Department poultry

production emerged as one of the major agro-based industries of the state,

providing part time or whole time employment to a sizeable number of

youth. The intensive poultry development programme was launched in the

state within a radius of 30km around the poultry project at Hariparbat

(Srinagar) and Belicharana (Jammu ) in the year 1968-6965.Initially the main

thrust of the departmental activities was towards the promotion of egg

production and in this regard commercial strain of birds, namely HH-26066

were introduced. Also an organized duck farming centre was started for the

first time at Sumbal Sonnawari and high producing strains of both egg type

ducks with production potential of 200-250 eggs per year and broiler ducks

with growth rate of 2-2.5 kilograms in 40-50 days were introduced.67 Also,

for the development of poultry in hilly areas cockerel exchange and egg

exchange schemes were introduced to establish poultry farming up-grading

nucleus at the door of small farmers 68However, the adverse agro-climatic

64

F. A. Kalloo, “Development of Livestock in Jammu and Kashmir: A Retrospect” in Kashvet, 1992, op. cit., p. 14.


66 The strain had a potential of 260 eggs per annum under field conditions, the birds

performed well in the valley conditions and gave a production of about 180-200 eggs per year on hen house basis. Administration Report, 1987-88, op. cit., p. 18.

67 Annual Administration Report, 1987-88, op. cit., p. 14.

68 Annual Plan, Vol. I, 1979-80, op. cit., p. 53. Under the egg exchange scheme, fresh selected

eggs of various improved breeds like Longhorn were distributed in appropriate areas in exchange with the Desi eggs for quick spread of improved variety of birds.


237

conditions and lakh of feed ingredients made such production economically

unviable and the industry could not develop on commercial scale even

though it developed as a backyard scheme. Also, since duck eggs could not

find favour with the general public, it was decided that the department

should concentrate on ducks for meat69.

With the increase in demand for poultry meat, a broiler production

programme was launched in the valley in early eighties which came up as a well

organized industry. A large number of farms were established in the private

sector through the assistance of poultry wing of the department of animal

husbandry which led to the qualitative and quantitative development of poultry

development sector. Qualitatively the department introduced high yielding

strains of broiler type birds like white rock as female line and red Cornish as

male line.70 A number of hatcheries also came up which contributed in a big

way to the development of this sector in the valley.

9. Sheep Rearing Programmes: The agro-climatic conditions and natural

endowments provided ample scope and potential to sheep rearing and large

chunks of population like gaddies, Gujjars, Bakerwals and Chopans had

been involved with it. Sheep rearing in the upper reaches of Jammu and

Kashmir is a basic livelihood for Gujjars and Bakerwals who migrate with

the livestock to green pastures. Before, 1947 the sheep of the state

comprised of the local breeds Viz. Karnahi and Gurezi with low body weight

and coarser quality of wool.71 To up-grade it, a breeding company, Kashmir

sheep Farm Private Limited was set up at Banihal on the recommendations

of Prof. Alfred. F Barker72 and a Tasmanian Mariano were imported in 1941.

By 1947 cross breed F1 F2 were obtained.73

69

Annual plan, Vol. 1 1979-80, op. cit., 70


F. A. Kalloo, “Development of Livestock in Jammu and Kashmir”, in Kashvet, 1992, op. cit., p. 14.

72 Jammu and Kashmir: Fifty Years, op. cit., p. 333.

73 Ibid. p. 33.


238

After 1947, the newly set up Govt. gave more emphasis to the

development of this sector. With the growth in population the demand for

mutton and wool had increased manifold and a need was felt to introduce

exotic breeds with better genetic makeup. Accordingly Australian and Russian

Marino sheep breeds were selected for Kashmir valley and Romboullet from

USA was introduced in Jammu areas74. The ICAR scheme of cross breeding local

sheep with Romboullet on regional basis on 50:50 share started functioning in

the state in April, 1952 and continued up to march 1968 at Zeban/Reasi farm.75

For quantitative growth and qualitative improvement of the sheep, 16 sheep

breeding farms were established in the state in different sheep belts particularly

in those areas where grazing facilities were available.76 Through the cross

breeding programme a new breed of sheep called Kashmir Marino was evolved

in 1960 at Diachigam,77 by crossing the local ewes with the Australian Merino

Rams, which was three to four times more productive than the local one78. The

Kashmir Marino had a better body weight– average 53.6Kg at 2 years of age and

wool producing capacity of 3-4 kg79 and was the major success of the

programme. In view of the economic returns from the occupation of sheep

rearing the Techno-Economic Survey Report of 1969, recommended that “for

sheep development programme, it would be better to concentrate on selected

areas and saturate them with the programme of cross breeding, disease control,

wool grading and marketing”80 Subsequently during the 5th five year plan

special attention was paid to sheep husbandry and different schemes were

introduced which included, development of mutton farms, establishment of

sheep and wool extension centres and establishment of intensive sheep

74

F. A. Kalloo, “Development of Livestock in Jammu and Kashmir”, in Kashvet, 1992, op. cit., p. 14.

75 Jammu and Kashmir: Fifty Years, op. cit., p. 333.

76 The sheep population which had decreased to 11.62 lakh in 1961 from 14.65 lakh in 1956

increased to 19.08 lakh in 1982 and 46% of it constituted of cross-breed variety. Kashmir veterinarian: A Quarterly Technical Journal of Animal Husbandry Department, 1992, p. 14.

77 F. A. Kalloo, “Development of Livestock in Jammu and Kashmir,” in Kashvet, 1992, Op. cit.,

p. 14. 78

Report of the Committee on Economic Reforms in Jammu and Kashmir, op. cit., p. 134. 79

Ibid. 80

Techno-Economic Survey of Jammu and Kashmir 1969, op. cit, p. 164.


239

development blocks. The basic line of approach to sheep development under

“sheep and wool Extension centres” from that of “Intensive sheep development

blocks” was that the activities in the latter were concentrated in a contiguous

belt, whereas the cross breeding under the “sheep and wool extension centres”

was proposed to be spread throughout the district except those areas which had

already been brought under the “Intensive sheep development”81. It was

envisaged through the plan to increase the production of wool and meat to 18

lakh Kg and 84 lakh kg respectively by increasing the cross breed progeny of

sheep from 2 lakh by the end of 4th Plan to 6 lakh by the end of the 5th Plan.

This was sought to be done by bringing 66% of the total ewe population under

coverage of cross breeding and converting 60% of the total population into

upgrade cross breed progeny of various grades.82 However, despite these efforts

the state was deficient in the mutton and the requirement was made by

importing 4-5 lakh of sheep and goats annually.83

In order to decrease the dependence of the state on other Indian states

for mutton and wool the state not only focused on the development of sheep

through genetic means but also emphasised on the improvement of grass lands

which was the first necessity for high output from the ruminant livestock. In

this regard the improvement of the grass lands was induced through, the

rotational grazing in village grass lands, introduction of nutritious fodders and

fertilization of pastures at alpine and high lands. Following the

recommendations of Techno-Economic Survey of Jammu and Kashmir, 1969 and

the Development Review Committee, 1977,84 a number of steps were taken

81

Fifth Five Year Plan, op. cit., p. 64. 82

Ibid. p. 82. 83

Government of Jammu and Kashmir, Annual Plan 1975-76 (Department of Planning and Development), p. 44.

84 Techno-Economic Survey of Jammu and Kashmir, 1969, had recommended that sheep

rearing could be fitted in as mixed farming activity with the programme of developing apple orchards, using the space in between the trees as grazing ground, and ensuring for fuller utilization of manpower and other resources. This mixed farming would be more suitable where orchards are on slopes and karewas land. Techno-Economic Survey of Jammu and Kashmir, op. cit., p. 164; The Development Review Committee, highlighted that there was scope for propagating muttonous varieties in the foot hills and the orchards, see, Report of the Committee on Economic Reforms in Jammu and Kashmir, op. cit., p. 11.


240

towards the development of the sheep husbandry which included the

establishment of Sheep Breeder’s cooperative society and Associations- Under

the scheme meetings, seminars and sheep shows were held in all districts of the

valley to bring in changes in the Philosophy, approach, concepts of thinking

and planning and also to create enthusiasm within the breeders to enable them

to chill down their age old practices of rearing, shearing and managing sheep

and marketing of their products, intensification of the programme of artificial

insemination, Mass drenching dipping of sheep-to decrease the mortality of

sheep and increase their power of production in respect of meat and wool,

intensification of backward pocket sheep and Area development-to extend the

development activities to far flung and neglected areas of the state.85

Moreover, a big headway had been made in the establishment of sheep centres

in the state .The number of sheep farms increased from seven in 1974-75 to 431

in 1996-97 and the number of sheep centres increased from 283 to 1348 during

the same period86.

Livestock Production and Import

Before 1947, livestock products like meat, milk, wool and eggs were not

imported into the valley but this does not mean that such products were

available in plenty or that the valley was self-sufficient in such items. The

livestock products were not imported because of their availability but because

the people of the land had no purchasing power. Most of the population of the

valley lived in rural areas practising subsistence agriculture and the per-capita

consumption of the livestock products was very low as compared to other states

of India. After 1947, the newly established government took a serious note of

necessities of the people and launched a number of schemes to ameliorate the

conditions of the impoverished masses. In order to improve the diet standards

of the people of the state the government started the “Applied Nutritive

programme” in the year 1966-67 in the two blocks of the state Viz. Tral

85

Fifth Five year Plan, op. cit., pp. 83-90. 86

Jammu and Kashmir: Fifty Years, op. cit., p. 334.


241

(Kashmir) and R. S. Pora (Jammu) which was later on extended to other parts

of the state.87 The programme envisaged to educate the rural masses about

balanced food, pre and post- natal care of pregnant women etc. and helped a

lot in making the people to switch over to balanced diet with the increase in

their income. As a result of the programme the demand for the livestock

products increased, notwithstanding that the climate, customs and the growing

population were the main forces behind the increase in the demand of the

livestock products. In order to meet the demand the state launched a number

of programmes to improve the quantity and the quality of the livestock, which

included Cattle, sheep and poultry development programmes as already

discussed above. Through such programmes the production of milk which was

0.81 lakh tonnes in 1951 reached to 4.1 lakh tonnes in 1997-98, thereby,

increasing the milk availability per person from 56 ml to 255 ml during the

period.88 Similarly there was improvement in other sectors as well and the

production of the items increased with the passage of time.89 The livestock

population of the state increased by 32.2% and there was tremendous increase

in the production of the poultry as well which increased from 2,166,299 in 1956

to 2,406760 in 1982.90 However, the progress in the sector which was the result

of the concerted efforts of the farming community, liberal financial assistance,

policy support of the government and technological innovations could not end

the dependence of the state on outside markets. The increase in the demand of

food items of animal origin caused due to the rapid increase in the population

the overwhelming majority of which was non-vegetarian could not be met

through the livestock of the state, hence opening the doors for the imports

from other states of India. The livestock products had therefore, to be imported

from other states. According to the Economic Reforms Committee Report, 1969,

87

Government of Jammu and Kashmir, Eighth Five Year Plan, Department of Planning and Development, p. 79.

88 Fifty Years of Animal Husbandry, Op. cit., p. 38. The recommendation of the WHO is 280

ml per person per day. 89

Egg production in 1951 was 11 million and in 1997 it was 192 million, the poultry production was more than double during the period, Fifty Years of Animal Husbandry, op. cit., p. 38.

90 Report of the Committee on Economic Reforms for Jammu and Kashmir, op. cit., p. 133.


242

five to eight lakh table birds from the private farms are pushed to the market

every month and the sheep population of the state is roughly 21.09 lakh while

as mutton production has reached 16,507 tonnes per annum while as the official

estimates put mutton requirement at 25,000 tonnes annually. The import of the

livestock is shown in the table below:

Table 8.6

Import of Livestock

Year Sheep and Goat % increase/decrease

1999-00 1242634 ----

2000-01 1407405 13.26

2001-02 1274297 -9.46

2002-03 1374774 7.88

2003-04 1352828 -0.02

2004-05 1361728 0.66

2005-06 N A N A

Source: Economic Review of Jammu and Kashmir (2006-07), Directorate of Economics and Statistics Planning and Development Department.

Dairy Development

The milk production of the state in 1956 stood at 1.12 lakh tonnes thus

making 70 ml of milk available per person which was far below the

recommendation of the World Health Organization (WHO)91. Until early 1960s

milked tea was considered to be a luxury for the poor masses and an

overwhelming majority of people used to consume black tea. Moreover, the

production of milk was not only inadequate but was also spread throughout the

length and breadth of the state particularly in the hilly areas where demand

was very low. In order to procure the milk from the rural and hilly areas for the

supply to the urban centres the government set up a milk plant at 91

Ibid. p. 9.


243

Chashmashahi in Srinagar in the year 1962 with a capacity of 10000 litres of

milk per day but the plant could not work to its full capacity because of the non

availability of milk.92Following the implementation of the Intensive Cattle

Development programme the production of milk increased and the per-capita

milk availability reached to 100 ml in 1973-74 as against 140ml at the national

level where as the actual requirement as per the recommendations of the WHO

was 280ml.93 Despite being ideally suited for dairy development, the

development of dairy animals was unfortunately not as encouraging. Up to 1975

hardly 1/3rd of the breedable bovine population in the state was covered by the

programmes of upgrading the local breeds.94 During the 5th Five Year Plan an

outlay of Rs 60 lakh was kept for dairying and milk supply with main focus on

extension and consolidation of the existing milk supply scheme of the state,

removal of urban cattle, re-organization of dairy cooperative societies by

providing assistance in the shape of loans, dairy cows, feed subsidy, dairy

articles, etc.95 Also most of the anti-poverty schemes under “Integrated Rural

Development Programme (IRDP)” were livestock based.96 The cumulative effect

of all the programmes launched in this regard was that the quantity of milk

production increased considerably. The constant increase in the quantity of the

production of milk from 1974 to 1998 which is shown as under:

92

Annual Plan, 1975-76, op. cit., p. 43. 93

Ibid. 94

Report of the Development Review Committee, op. cit., p. 11. The committee also commended the example of the Anand where it had been possible to bring about a revolution in dairying by efficient combination of all the required inputs like nutrition, medical cover and marketing.


96 IRDP was launched in the state in the year 1980, and about 66% of schemes under it were

livestock based. Under the programme a section of the rural households were provided with various assets to boost their incomes such as Jersey cow, Siddhartha Prakash, “Political Economy of Kashmir Since 1947”, in Economic and Political weekly, June 10, 2000, p. 2055.


244

Table 8.7

Milk Production in Jammu and Kashmir

Year Milk production in lakh tonnes

1974-75 1.85

1980-81 2.40

1984-85 3.53

1987-88 4.28

1988-89 4.50

1989-90 4.86

1995-96 8.70

1996-97 9.92

1997-98 11.79

Source: Indicator of Economic Development, 1998-99, Directorate of Economics and Statistics, Govt. of J&K.

Notwithstanding the fact that the impressive increase in milk

production has totally eliminated the need for import of raw /processed liquid

but it is worth to mention that the growth in the sector is not at par with other

states like Punjab and Gujarat, where the cross-breed and new breeds are large

in number, which are the pioneers in the field of dairy development.97 No

doubt dairy farming in the state is still a subsistence activity but income and

employment opportunities can be increased through the modernization of the

sector. Also, the economics of milk production being a complex phenomenon

involving a number of factors affecting the cost of production98 Viz. cost of feed

and fodder, labour costs, interest on investments, depreciation, veterinary

expenses, miscellaneous costs, sale of milk and manure, there is a need to

spearhead a feed and fodder development programme, build a specialized

infrastructure such as farm bulk coolers and refrigeration centres. Nevertheless, 97

State Development Report, op. cit. 98

Annual Conference, op. cit.


245

selective privatization of animal husbandry services would be a preferred

approach (services in which public interest is greater than individual interest

e.g., eradication of diseases, programmes for weaker sections, extension and

education for weaker sections / areas would continue to be provided by the

Govt.99)

However, during the period under reference, the state had failed to

substantially transform this vital sector of the economy. Stress had been laid on

the development of agriculture and allied sectors but, as mentioned earlier, the

entire exercise of programme implementation in the livestock had centred on

Trial-Error Abrogation approach. Low cost village level technology for the

better use of animal products, processing and marketing and opening up of

frozen semen centres in remote areas to cover all local cattle population is yet

to be introduced in the state. Though there was a considerable improvement in

the production of wool in the state but the increase in mutton production had

not been impressive and the state remained largely dependent on adjacent

states for its ever-growing demand for mutton. The most important challenge

for the animal and sheep husbandry sectors was the problem of fodder in the

winter season, particularly for the valley.

99

State Development Report, op. cit., p. 81.