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By Irfan Ul Aziz Tantry Banihal Jammu And Kashmir

Zaban (Kharkoot) / Reasi The first Sheep breeding and research centre of J&K State Kashmir is known as Paradise on Earth, absolutely Kashmir is a beautiful place. It is well known for its natural beauty, lush green meadows, waterfalls, charming flowers, orchards and so many other things. The foreigners had an inclination towards this lush green valley from very beginning. In 1925 A.D the 3rd Dogra Maharaja died and his nephew Maharaja Hari Singh took the throne of J&K. Maharaja Hari Singh was very able administrator. He took many bold decisions for the development of state. Besides other projects Maharaja was keen in the wool development of J&K. In 1928 A.D Maharaja invited wool technology experts from British Govt. to survey and suggest for the improvement of sheep and wool in the state. In 1931 A.D Prof. Alfred Barker of wool technology of LEEDS University England arrived in the state and travelled throughout the state for one month and twenty-five days in various sheep rearing areas and carpet making industries, who recommended cross breeding of local sheep with exotic breeds and also improving the local sheep by selective breeds. In pursuance of the report of Prof. barker, Govt. sanctioned setting up of sheep-farm known as Kashmir Sheep farm Pvt. Ltd. ZABAN (Kharkoot) Banihal, in 1931, where Maharaja Hari Singh and Mr. Ram Chandar Hasker hold 51% and 49% share and cross-breeding started in 1938, with Marino and Corridle, Cheviot, border Leicester etc. In 1949, Govt. passed an order of liquidation of company and amalgamation of all assets and liabilities in Research section of form and named as Govt. Sheep breeding and Research Farm (Reasi/Zaban) Banihal. Upto 1950-51 various exotic breeds were tried for cross breeding but only the Marino crossing proved successful in the state, which afterwards resulted in the development of Kashmir, but after banning on importing of Marino, the next breed which proved successful was Rambouillet from USA. On 10th of March 1951 for the first time three male and three female Rambouillet arrived at sheep breeding farm Reasi/ Zaban Banihal. The migration of sheep and the officials of sheep breeding and research farm Reasi/(Zaban) Banihal starts 20th day of April every year from Reasi and in the first week of May it reaches Zaban ( Kharkoot) Banihal and the live stock kept for grazing at Zaban pasture. After two months the department shifts the livestock with some livestock men to Nawan and Sundertop for grazing. In the last week of August the livestock again returned to Zaban as the upper reaches gets cold after august. Till ending Sept. winter migration starts in the 2nd week of Oct. every year towards Reasi. Zaban is also a beautiful place having much potential for domestic and international tourism, but till today Zaban is not connected by road and the place is not electrified till today. But recently due to some development efforts the present coalition govt. has started the construction of road for this historical sheep breeding form and also sanctioned the electric supply for this “the 1st sheep breeding and research form of Jammu & Kashmir”.

By: Irfan Ul Aziz Tantry

NOWGAM, Banihal