Leh, December 11:The Secretary Animal, Sheep, Husbandry and Fisheries, Ravinder Kumar informed that the feed distribution in the Durbuk region shall commence and approximately 422 quintals of feed are to be distributed amongst the nomads/herders as per the livestock strength. Additionally, Councilors shall also visit and supervise the process of distribution. Once it is completed, the situation will be reassessed and a contingency stock available with the Department of Animal and Sheep Husbandry will be used depending upon the severity of the disaster and further requirements.

Kumar informed further that the Sheep Husbandry has stocked approximately 2,600 quintals of feed for the Changthang region which shall be distributed as and when required. Similarly, the Department of Animal Husbandry has 588 quintals for the Nyoma sub-division and 533 quintals of contingency stock for Durbuk Block. Around 100 quintals of feed have already been stocked at Nyoma for further distribution by the Department of Animal Husbandry.

Furthermore, the Administration is fully prepared to tackle the heavy snowfall and has taken up numerous measures in Changthang to support livestock rearing, such as setting up six places for community fodder land development, including Changthang, Rongo, Tsaga, Nyoma and Nidder; rangeland consultation programmes have also been conducted at Meru, Samad, Hanle, Rongo, Kargaim and Phobrang; Mudh, Loma bridge, Kharnak, Rongo and Chumur along with KVK Nyoma has been taken up for development by SKAUST, Stakna. Also, in the year 2021, 1,300 quintals of free pelleted feed and 350 quintals of fodder have been made available, and this year 3,200 quintals of feed and 500 quintals of fodder have been provided for winter supplementary feeding in Changthang. Additionally, seven fodder/feed banks and four more structures will be raised this year with CPWD as the implementing agency.

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100% of sheep and goats have been immunised against Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) and all of them have been vaccinated against external parasites. A sufficient quantity of drugs and provisions have been procured and are available for any contingency situation should such occur. Four mobile clinics were pressed into action last year and two vaccination vans are being procured during this year, improving reach and quality of service. It was observed that mortality figures have evidently improved; a survey to quantify the improvement in mortality figures is underway. AI training for officers has been conducted for AI in pashmina goat and trails at farms will be conducted soon.

Further, a sum of 500 lacs were made available to All Changthang Pashmina Growers Cooperative Marketing Society,(ACPGCMS) Leh for pashmina procurement and this has helped stabilise pashmina price which has stayed above Rs 3000/kg even though there was a supply demand mismatch due to prevailing COVID situation in the national and international market. Supply order of new pashmina dehairing plant has been placed during the year and the new pashmina scouring plant has already been installed in the new plant building. This value addition step is further expected to improve and strengthen pashmina price. GI tagging of pashmina fibre of Ladakh is also under process.

Divisional Commissioner, Ladakh Saugat Biswas informed further, that matters of inconvenience faced by the Changthang nomads during the cold winter months for grazing in the forward areas is being taken up actively by the District Magistrate, Leh and the office of the Divisional Commissioner with the local formations of the 14 Corps. of the Indian Army. The Army in coordination with the district administration will pave ways for easing grazing activities of the animal rearers.