In the mountainous state of Jammu and Kashmir, increase in human population, urbanization, incomes with changing life-style and dietary preferences have led to considerable demand for livestock-based products. Moreover, to meet the nutritional security of non-vegetarian population, the state imports milk, meat and eggs worth more than rupees two thousand crores from Punjab, Rajasthan and Haryana. This paper has examined the value chains for milk, mutton, and eggs in the state using survey and secondary data collected from livestock producers, and market functionaries including institutional and non-institutional state players. The growth momentum in livestock and or/products has exhibited a rapid positive trend in cross-bred cattle, buffalo, small ruminants, milk production, meat and eggs and thus, also radiating consumption growth to meet the nutritional security. On the basis of managing substantial growth in milk production, Jammu and Kashmir was placed at second rank at the national level. The study has deliberated upon current status, and has identified institutional failures in the livestock sector. It has also suggested strengthening of integrated value chains for livestock products so as to enable the state to capture benefits of expanding demand.
Livestock production, nutritional security, institutional failures, Jammu & Kashmir
