MUZAFFARABAD: Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Prime Minister Chaudhry Abdul Majeed has sought proposals for ‘decentralisation’ of agriculture and livestock departments “to strengthen their relationship with the farmers on the one hand and ensure effective exploitation of national resources on the other.”

Speaking at a briefing here on Wednesday, he maintained that all directors of agriculture and livestock departments were based in Muzaffarabad due to which other districts like Bhimber, Kotli, Haveli and Rawalakot were not getting as much attention as required for development of agriculture and livestock.

Therefore the current centralised status of these departments should be done away with so as to ensure proper and result oriented utilisation of national resources, he said.

The prime minister took strong exception to closure of Jarri Kas Canal in the southern Mirpur division and asked the officials concerned to make it operational after its maintenance and cleaning.

The move aims to utilise national resources

He said since the federal government would soon issue a ‘No Objection Certificate’ for release of 614 cusecs of water from Mangla reservoir to meet irrigation and drinking water needs of AJK’s southern parts, a concept paper should be prepared for launching of irrigation system in Bhimber and Kharri.

A fully functional irrigation system could help AJK meet its grain food needs from those areas, he said.

He also directed for preparation of a concept paper on establishment of a full-fledged agriculture and livestock university in Bhimber.

The department should identify vacant pieces of government land for goat farms in Leepa, Neelum and Haveli, for sheep farms in Bhimber and for poultry farms in Pallandari and adjacent areas, he said.

He pointed out that agriculture and livestock sector offered tremendous employment opportunities, but ironically people in AJK had stopped taking interest in sowing and cattle rearing, which was why every edible item - from vegetables to crops to poultry and dairy products - had to be brought from Pakistan.

Earlier, the prime minister was told that last year, Rs18 million were generated by private sector in Rawalakot from sale of flowers and more than Rs90 million were generated by Leepa valley people from sale of shelled walnuts and kernels in the markets of Rawalpindi and Islamabad.

Officials said that establishment of a research centre in Bhimber was direly required to develop livestock in that area for it was home to the best breeds of cattle.

The proposed research centre would also include a human resource development wing where livestock protection and management courses could be launched for peasants, farmers and field staff to help them familiarise with modern techniques of dairy and goat and sheep farming, they said.

Furthermore, they added, since Bhimber and its suburban areas were also home to vast tracts of fertile land, the same could be used for fodder research and trial.

Officials told the PM that a top breed of sheep in Neelum Valleys upper reaches, known as Kel sheep, was famous across the country for its semi fine wool.

Since the breed was facing the threat of extinction, it could also be introduced in the equally high altitude Leepa valley and Haveli, which offered suitable environment for its propagation, they proposed.

They told the premier that the poultry complex in Pallandari was nearing completion. It included sheds for parent flocks as well as hatchery from where one-day-old chicks would be sold to the interested people.

Interestingly, the AJK minister for agriculture and livestock, Syed Bazil Naqvi was conspicuous by his absence on the occasion.

Published in Dawn, July 3rd , 2014