World Milk Day is being celebrated in Jammu and Kashmir today. The event is being organised at Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC) in Srinagar and is graced by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Purshotam Rupala, MoS Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Sanjiv Kumar Baliyan and MoS Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying and Information & Broadcasting Dr L Murugan.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha while thanking the Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Shri Purshotam Rupala for extending his ministry’s wholehearted assistance and support to Jammu and Kashmir said that the Union Territory has moved ahead on the path of peace and development.
He said that the dairy sector has the potential to boost other sectors also. Mr Sinha said the implementation of Kisan Samparak Scheme has uplifted our marginal farmers and given boost to our agri sector and has not only helped in increasing the average productivity but also helped in creating more and more jobs.
He said that J&K will be milk surplus Union Territory in coming five years as the government has embarked on a holistic agri programme focussed on agri-entrepreneurship.
Speaking on the occasion, the Union Minister Dr L Murugan said that World Milk Day is an occasion to celebrate and acknowledge the contributions of our dairy farmers especially women whose contributions have made India top milk milk producer in the world. He said that diary sector has empowered more that eighteen million people in the country.
He further said that while the global milk production is growing at 2% annually however in India, it is growing at above 60%. He informed that the milk production of India in 2020-21 was record 221 MTs which was achieved due to the hard work of our dairy farmers, entrepreneurs & due to the schemes of central government.
In her welcome address, Ms Alka Upadhyay, Secretary Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying said that India is emerging as the Milk Power of the world and the country imports varied milk products across nations. She said that the per day income from milk and poultry sector has empowered our women folk, particularly in villages. She while thanking the dignitaries for the support and cooperation said that all the nations are keenly looking towards India market to tap it’s potential for import and export.
Chief Secretary, J&K Dr Arun Kumar Mehta while speaking on the occasion said that the Union Territory is fully digital and is aspiring to achieve the top spot. He said Jammu and Kashmir is moving towards digital agriculture knowing the importance of agriculture and allied sector for the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. He further said that J&K has emerged as number one in income generation from agriculture and allied sectors among the Union Territories and States of the country.
Over thousand farmers from across Jammu and Kashmir and parts of the country are participating in the event.
