LOCAL SHEEP PRODUCTION FARMS MOSTLY ON PAPERS ONLY
SUBSIDIES IN CRORES RELEASED, SHARED BY EMPLOYES AND FRAUDSTERS
Srinagar: There is an acute shortage of mutton in the Valley following J&K Governments decision to fix rate for mutton at Rs 480 per kg, People in Jammu and Kashmir annually consume 51,000 tons of mutton worth Rs 2500 crore. Most of the supply is imported from outside mandis from Punjab, Delhi, Rajasthan and other parts also. Despite the Sheep Husbandry Department claiming that they are funding and offering subsidies to over 80,000 Sheep farms, the local supply procured from them is meager.
Our correspondent talked to one of the mutton dealer Mohammad Fayaz who stated that “it is not possible for us to sell mutton at this price.” “We are not talking about our profit but the government must take the transportation and other cost into consideration. We were selling mutton at Rs 600 per kg which is the rate at which we buy meat from outside the UT of Jammu and Kashmir. At this rate, we have to pay money from our own pocket which includes travel and maintenance cost for the animals,” he said.
The Sheep Husbandry Department claims that it contributes 33% of meat being consumed while 67% is imported. Mutton dealers, however, contest this government claim saying the percentage given by the Government is an exaggeration as most of the sheep production farms are only on paper after grabbing government subsidy and incentives in connivance with government officials of industries, Khadi 7 village department, Sheep husbandry department and at times the financial institutions.
“In fact these sheep unit holders create sheep farms to get subsidy benefits. If their number is so high, why is meat in short supply in the market,” asked a mutton retailer.
Mohammad Saleem Mir, President of Unity of Mutton Traders stated that Sheep Husbandry Department is claiming that it provides financial assistance to sheep unit holders under various schemes. “Where is the Department today and why is it not procuring sheep from these local unit holders? Why is there a shortage of meat,” he questioned.
He said it is the duty of the Department to procure sheep from these local unit holders to ensure there is sufficient supply available in the market. “We will sell the meat as per the rate prescribed by the government provided the department procures sheep from the local unit holders,” Saleem said. He said if a single unit holder will supply only one sheep a month, there will be no need to import livestock from outside mandis.
Another importer of sheep asked, why is government flexing its aggression on mutton dealers only, why not against other trades the prices of which have risen to skies, but those trades are being managed by white color people, and as such we become the easy target to face and feel the wrath.
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