CEC Dr. Mohd. Jaffer Akhoon Attends Workshop on Sustainable Poultry Farming at KVK Kargil; Calls for Greater Support to Livestock Sector.

CEC Dr. Mohd. Jaffer Akhoon Attends Workshop on Sustainable Poultry Farming at KVK Kargil; Calls for Greater Support to Livestock Sector.
Kargil, July 25, 2026: The All India Coordinated Research Project (AICRP) on Poultry Breeding, ICAR, Leh Centre, High Altitude Livestock Research Institute (HALRI), organised a one-day workshop on “Poultry Farming in High Altitude Areas of Ladakh: Sustainable Practices and Farmers’ Empowerment” at Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Kargil, to promote sustainable poultry farming and strengthen rural livelihoods in the region.
The programme was held under the patronage of the Hon’ble Vice Chancellor, University of Ladakh, Prof. Saket Kushwaha. Hon’ble Chairman and Chief Executive Councillor (CEC), LAHDC Kargil, Dr. Mohd. Jaffar Akhoon, attended the workshop as the Chief Guest, while Hon’ble Executive Councillor for Agriculture and Horticulture, Syed Agha Mujtaba, was the Guest of Honour.
Among those present were Prof. Feroz Din Sheikh, Principal Coordinator, AICRP on Poultry Breeding; the Head, KVK Kargil; scientists from AICRP, KVK Leh and KVK Kargil; officials, progressive farmers and beneficiaries.
The programme commenced with a welcome address by Dr. Sabiya Asmat, Subject Matter Specialist, KVK Leh, followed by a presentation highlighting the achievements and ongoing research activities under the AICRP on Poultry Breeding.
Addressing the gathering, Prof. Feroz Din Sheikh said the project focuses on identifying and promoting location-specific poultry breeds capable of thriving in Ladakh’s harsh climatic conditions. He informed that the Vanaraja breed has shown excellent performance in terms of body weight and egg production, while field trials of the Him Samridhi breed, developed by the Palampur Centre, have yielded encouraging results. He added that, in the initial phase, 320 birds have been distributed among KVK Kargil, SAS&T and twelve selected farmers for further evaluation.
The Head, KVK Kargil, expressed gratitude to the Hon’ble CEC for his continued support to the farming community and informed that the beneficiaries under the programme were selected based on socio-economic criteria to ensure the benefits reach deserving families.
In his message, Vice Chancellor Prof. Saket Kushwaha appreciated the efforts of Dr. Feroz Din Sheikh and the research team for achieving significant milestones within a short period. He identified poultry feed as one of the major constraints to poultry farming in Ladakh and emphasised the need to establish a feed mill in the region. He described poultry farming as a “living bank” that provides financial security while contributing to household nutrition and food security.
In his address, CEC Dr. Mohd. Jaffar Akhoon stressed the importance of livestock products in ensuring balanced nutrition and observed that Ladakh, once organically rich by default, must preserve and strengthen its traditional agricultural practices. He urged scientists and research institutions to continue developing innovative technologies and livestock practices suited to the region.
The CEC appreciated AICRP for organising the workshop, stating that such knowledge-sharing platforms foster innovation, collaboration and capacity building among farmers. He reiterated LAHDC Kargil’s commitment to promoting livestock-based enterprises through subsidised schemes, revolving funds and other government support programmes.
Highlighting the success of fish farming in Kargil, Dr. Akhoon noted that nearly 120 fish farming units have been established in the district, demonstrating the growing potential of alternative livelihood sectors. He urged unemployed youth, women and economically weaker families to take advantage of government-supported farming schemes and called for more awareness programmes to be organised across remote villages of Ladakh.
Speaking on the occasion, Executive Councillor Syed Agha Mujtaba appreciated the organisers for conducting a highly beneficial programme and expressed hope that similar training and awareness initiatives would be implemented on a larger scale in Kargil to empower farmers and rural youth.
Addressing the participants, Vice Chancellor Prof. Saket Kushwaha reaffirmed the University of Ladakh’s commitment to supporting farmers and entrepreneurs through research, training and extension services. He emphasised that such initiatives improve household incomes and reduce living costs while strengthening the rural economy. He urged beneficiaries to remain connected with KVKs and concerned departments to avail technical guidance, subsidies, veterinary support and other government facilities.
During the technical session, experts from KVK Leh and KVK Kargil delivered presentations on sustainable poultry farming, breed improvement, nutrition, disease management, chick rearing and livelihood enhancement in the high-altitude regions of Ladakh. Dr. Feroz Khan Sheikh, Head, KVK Leh, presented the scope and feasibility of poultry farming under Ladakh’s climatic conditions and highlighted the training, technical support and veterinary services being extended to farmers.
The inaugural session concluded with a formal vote of thanks by Dr. Kunzang Lhamo, Scientist, KVK Leh.
The workshop served as an important platform for scientists, extension professionals, policymakers and farmers to exchange knowledge, discuss innovative farming practices and explore sustainable strategies for promoting poultry farming as a viable livelihood option in the cold arid region of Ladakh.