Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Monday highlighted a landmark initiative launched from Chamoli district, under which local farmers and livestock rearers are now supplying sheep, goat, and poultry products directly to the Indian Army.
Calling it “a strong step towards building a self-reliant India,” the Chief Minister said the effort would ensure a stable and assured market for cattle rearers living in border villages.
Dhami noted that the initiative aligns with the goals of the 'Vibrant Village' scheme, stating it will help curb migration from remote areas by offering sustainable livelihood opportunities. “The cattle rearers of our border villages will get a permanent and assured market,” he said.
As part of the initiative, the Indian Army will procure poultry products from local farmers via the Animal Husbandry Department. On Monday, the first consignment of supplies was dispatched to forward posts of the Indian Army in Mana and Malari, both located in Chamoli district. The supplies were flagged off by Chief Development Officer Dr. Abhishek Tripathi.
The Animal Husbandry Department has set a target to supply locally sourced sheep, goat, and poultry products to forward Army posts throughout Uttarakhand. In this first phase, poultry products have been prioritised. The initial shipment was supplied from Joshimath and included poultry provided by local breeders Mr. Gulshan Singh Rana and Mr. Saurabh Negi.
The objective behind this effort is to not only boost production but also establish a robust local market network for animal breeders, ensuring fair pricing and timely payments. This builds on a previous milestone in which the department signed an MoU with the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), opening market access to local producers.
Following this success, the possibility of supplying live sheep, goats, and poultry to the Army introduces an additional income stream for livestock farmers in Vibrant Villages. The initiative is also expected to generate employment opportunities for local youth, contributing further to rural development and addressing the issue of outward migration.