SHD Bandipora organises workshop on FRDP

Bandipora, Jan 20: The Sheep Husbandry Department (SHD) Bandipora Friday organised a one day workshop on Fodder Resources Development Plan (FRDP) for J&K at District Sheep Husbandry Office, here.
At the outset, District Sheep Husbandry Officer (DSHO) Bandipora, Dr Showkat Ahmad presented the overall fodder scenario of the district and the need to promote cultivation of fodder crops for sustainable commercial livestock farming.
He said that the Department has launched an aggressive public outreach campaign for livestock development in the district with special focus on fodder production and its utilization and conservation.
Dr Nazim Hamid Mir Sr. Scientist, RRS Srinagar presented a detailed fodder resources development plan of UT of J&K including road map, implementation, stakeholder responsibilities and forage production/ protection technologies suitable for UT of J&K.
He said that there is a vast scope and prospects for fodder production in the district. He said that the Institute is ready to provide any kind of technical support to meet fodder deficit in the district.
Dr Syed Aijaz, Dy. Director F&F threw a detailed light on various forage production initiatives taken by the department including distribution of improved varieties of fodder seed kits procured from National Seed Corporation, Pusa among the sheep farmers.
Dr Mujtabha Yehya, Chief Agriculture Officer emphasized on use of fodder production technologies for improving farmers income. He said that there is a need to establish a fodder bank in the district to meet nutritional requirements of livestock in remote hilly areas especially Gurez region which usually remains cut-off from the rest of the valley for almost 5 months.
DFO Bandipora, Mudasir Ahmad gave a detailed account of measures taken for protection and conservation of forest areas and silvi pasture management for enhancing fodder production.
He further said that the department in coordination with IGFRI, RRS Srinagar and is planning for massive plantation of rootslips of fodder crops in Kehnusa forest area to augment fodder production.
Dr Tahir Saleem SMS KVK said that KVK is actively working for the development of grasslands and grass reserves in the district.