Srinagar: Agriculture Production Minister Javid Ahmad Dar on Thursday directed officials to prepare a comprehensive roadmap to transform Jammu and Kashmir’s wool sector into a modern, value-added and globally competitive industry.
Chairing a review meeting on the wool industry and the progress of interventions under the Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP), the minister assessed the status of wool production, processing infrastructure, market linkages and value-addition initiatives in the Union Territory.
The meeting was attended by Additional Chief Secretary, Agriculture Production Department, Ashish Chandra Verma; Mission Director, HADP, Sagar Dattatray Doifode; Director Sheep Husbandry, Kashmir; representatives of the wool industry and other senior officials.
Dar directed the departments concerned to identify villages and clusters with high livestock concentration and develop them into specialised wool production and processing hubs. He called for focused interventions in modern shearing, wool grading, processing, packaging, value addition and marketing.
The minister also stressed the need to improve the quality of locally produced wool by organising specialised training programmes for sheep breeders, rural entrepreneurs and youth. He said better production practices, scientific processing and stronger market linkages would help enhance the value of J&K wool.
Emphasising youth participation, Dar directed officials to provide training, technology, financial assistance and infrastructure to encourage young people to take up wool processing and allied enterprises. He also called for regular monitoring of Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) receiving assistance under HADP to ensure effective utilisation of government support.
The minister stressed greater coordination among the Sheep Husbandry Department, HADP, industry stakeholders and FPOs to establish an integrated wool value chain covering breeding, sheep health, scientific shearing, wool collection, processing, branding and marketing.
During the meeting, officials informed the minister that Jammu and Kashmir has around 43 lakh sheep and produces nearly 8.6 million kilograms of wool annually, with an average yield of about 1.9 kilograms per sheep. About 30 per cent of the wool produced is consumed within the Union Territory, while the rest is marketed outside J&K.
The meeting was also informed that 431 wool shearing units have been established under the Integrated Sheep Development Scheme (ISDS) and HADP with 50 per cent subsidy support to improve shearing efficiency, wool quality and animal welfare.
Officials said ₹64 crore has been earmarked for wool sector interventions under HADP over five years, of which ₹43.57 crore has already been released.
Dar directed officials to expedite implementation of the remaining interventions, ensure optimal utilisation of funds and strengthen monitoring mechanisms to improve the incomes of sheep breeders and generate employment in rural areas.
