Srinagar, May 20: The Government of India has announced the implementation of the Bharat Pashudhan-National Digital Livestock Mission (NDLM) in Jammu & Kashmir which is likely to revolutionize livestock management with technology integration, officials said on Saturday.
Additional Chief Secretary (ACS), Agriculture Production Department, Atal Dulloo said the Government of India has made an important announcement regarding the implementation of the Bharat Pashudhan-National Digital Livestock Mission (NDLM).
“The UT has been selected as one among the six states and Union Territories to implement the program. This mission aims to create a farmer-centric ecosystem driven by technology, which will include the establishment of a digital livestock database in Jammu & Kashmir, improved farmer services, and timely information updates,” he said.
As part of this initiative, the existing Information Network for Animal Productivity & Health (INAPH) system will be completely replaced.
“The NDLM will leverage a unique 12-digit barcoded Tag ID for all bovines and small ruminants, playing a crucial role in the universal Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) vaccination process under the National Animal Disease Control Programme/Livestock Health & Disease Control Program,” he said.
Recognizing the importance of this development, Dulloo said there is a clear understanding of the need to upgrade software structure and platform to effectively address the challenges faced by veterinarians, Paravets and other stakeholders in utilizing the IT-based system.
He expressed gratitude to the Government of India for selecting Jammu & Kashmir among the first States & Union Territories to implement the program.
He emphasized that over 90 percent of bovines in the region are already tagged and registered on the INAPH portal, ensuring a seamless transition of data from INAPH to NDLM in Jammu & Kashmir.
“The primary objective of this mission is to actively engage farmers in the digital ecosystem and maximize the utilization of data for disease prediction, analysis, and prevention,” he said.
He emphasized that clear instructions have been disseminated to all users of the INAPH application in the UT, urging them to promptly upload any pending data on the INAPH portal prior to the launch of the new digital platform.
To ensure a seamless transition, District Nodal Officers, nominated by the respective Heads of Departments of Animal/Sheep Husbandry, will receive training from NDLM Trainers on May 23.
“These officers will subsequently conduct multiple training sessions for all INAPH users and other relevant stakeholders within the Union Territory, guaranteeing their readiness for the new digital platform. Integrating data will facilitate the creation of a breeding program focused on achieving high-quality germplasm suitable for various agroclimatic conditions in Jammu & Kashmir,” Dulloo said.
He said the NDLM portal will play a crucial role in implementing the Dairy Development Project of the Holistic Agriculture Development Program (HADP).
The online platform features an inbuilt Ration Balancing and Milk Recording Module that will assist in ration balancing for 6 lakh dairy animals and annual milk recording for 30,000 dairy animals through Pashu Sakhis (A-HELP Workers).
The primary objective of NDLM, as emphasized, is to empower farmers by providing them with technological tools to fully utilize government facilities, and schemes, and avail livestock-related services in line with the vision of Digital India.
“The upgrade of the e-Gopala app will enable farmers to access essential information about their animals and take advantage of services like Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) and e-rupi-based facilities,” he said.
The implementation of the Bharat Pashudhan-NDLM in J&K is set to revolutionize the livestock sector by establishing a farmer-centric ecosystem driven by technology.
This mission aims to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of livestock management in the region through the establishment of a digital database, improved farmer services, and timely information updates.
The comprehensive integration of data within the database will enable better disease monitoring and control, facilitate the development of high-quality germplasm, ensure product traceability, and boost dairy and livestock exports.
The farmer empowerment initiatives, including the upgraded e-Gopala app, will provide farmers with access to critical information and government services, contributing to the overall development and growth of the livestock sector in Jammu & Kashmir.
