Kashmir’s Sheep Sperm station is now ISO-9001-2008 certified
SRINAGAR, OCTOBER 21:
The Sperm Station, of FS Project, Ranbirbagh under the Livestock Development Board, Kashmir has become the second ISO-9001-2008 certified Semen Laboratory in North India.
However, it is first such Laboratory in the entire country to have Codex-HACCP-2003 certification in addition to the ISO.
This information was given at a high-level meeting of the officers of Animal and Sheep Husbandry Department chaired by Minister for Sheep and Animal Husbandry, Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi, held to review the working of the Livestock Development Boards and Animal & Sheep Husbandry Departments.
Chief Executive Officer, Livestock Development Board, Kashmir Dr F A Kaloo, presented the certificates and audit reports from British Standards Institution Group to the Minister and informed him that with the certification the Livestock Development Board has started receiving requests for supply of Frozen HF Semen from other states.
The Minister was also informed about the import of 21 litres per hour capacity Liquid Nitrogen Plant worth Rs 2.50 crore from the Netherlands, which is shortly being installed at Shalteng campus of the Livestock Development Board where necessary civil works, are nearing completion.
The total project cost is estimated at Rs3.50 crore, which includes Rs 2, 50 crore received as Central assistance under NPCBB.
The plant is expected to cater to 70% needs of Liquid Nitrogen of AI centres across Kashmir Valley. The Minister was told that global tenders stand issued for purchase of elite bull semen from overseas for which funds are already available with the department. The minister expressed his dismay over the inordinate delay in the procurement process.
The Minister directed the Director Animal Husbandry Kashmir to take immediate steps for opening a stud farm in Kashmir to promote sports and tourism and to improve the lot of pony Wallas. He suggested that Arabian Thoroughbreds and Zanskari breed be introduced for horse breed improvement.
The Minister later discussed the arrangements for sale of sheep and chicken on the eve of Eid-ul-Azha in both Kashmir and Jammu regions. The directors of Sheep and Animal Husbandry provided him with details of the arrangements about the sale of mutton and chicken.
The minister laid the stress on the awareness generation about the livestock based schemes in vogue for unemployed youth in particular and farmers in general.