Challenges Encountered by Veterinarians and Dairy Farmers in the Context of Animal Healthcare Services in Kashmir

Abstract

The present study was purposively carried out in Kashmir Division of Jammu and Kashmir based on the availability of records for data collection at respective Government, Veterinary Healthcare Centers. The aim of the study was to get a knowhow about various challenges encountered by veterinarians and dairy farmers while delivering animal healthcare services in Kashmir. The many challenges/obstacles that veterinarians encounter while providing animal healthcare services, was the absence of efficient diagnostic laboratories with suitable infrastructure in veterinary clinics with a constraint index of 1.00,  followed by livestock farmers' delay in bringing animals in for treatment (CI =0.97),inadequate transportation facilities (CI= 0.89). whereas  poor supply of inputs with a constraint index of 0.95, followed by difficulty in availing veterinary services during emergencies (CI= 0.92) and non-availability of animal healthcare services round the clock ( CI=0.91) were the major constraints that majority of the livestock owners faced while availing the various animal healthcare services. The study's conclusions have given policymakers important information they need to know about the possibility of enhancing AHS in the Union Territory.