EARLY TIMES REPORT
UDHAMPUR, July 25: The Animal Husbandry Department Udhampur successfully conducted a special outreach veterinary camp in Kulwanta, one of the district's remotest villages. This initiative, part of a program to cater to neglected pockets, was carried out under the guidance of Dr. Sanjay Gupta, Chief Animal Husbandry Officer Udhampur.
The camp, supervised by Dr. Anwar Hussain, Superintendent of District Veterinary Hospital Udhampur, was held in collaboration with the Mobile Veterinary Unit Udhampur. It witnessed significant participation from local farmers who brought their animals for treatment, sought advisory services, and received consultations on various aspects of animal husbandry, including treatment, best practices, and employment generation.
Dr. Hussain addressed attendees, emphasizing the importance of transitioning towards value addition and cooperative farming to leverage better prospects and government assistance. He highlighted new government initiatives like the Assisted Breed Improvement Program- Sex Sorted Semen (ABIP-SS) as crucial for Animal Husbandry advancement.
More than 240 farmers attended the camp, and approximately 47 animals received on-the-spot treatment.
"Our department is committed to providing veterinary services directly to farmers' doorsteps, and these camps are a testament to that commitment," Dr. Hussain stated on the sidelines of the event. "These initiatives not only offer essential treatment to animals in need but also provide farmers with first hand information about animal diseases, departmental programs, and opportunities for employment generation."
Farmers expressed their gratitude for the department's efforts. Tireth Ram, a dairy farmer, remarked, "We have seen such an initiative for the first time." Naresh Singh, a poultry farmer, praised the department for supporting poultry entrepreneurship. Rashid Ahmad of Ladana village personally thanked the department and requested more such camps. Bimla Devi shared her appreciation, expressing hope that the department's efforts would lead to a boom in milk and poultry production, creating employment opportunities for the youth in the area.
Also present at the camp were Dr. Ishfaq Jamal, VAS Jopher; Dr. Karun Gupta, VAS MVU Udhampur; and Mr. Kripal Choudhary, Incharge Block Chanunta.
Dr. Sanjay Gupta, Chief Animal Husbandry Officer, later confirmed that free medicines are made available to needy farmers under the Mobile Veterinary Unit scheme, especially for inhabitants of difficult terrains.
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