In a bid to bail out the beleaguered peasantry from the current agrarian crisis by promoting allied farming activities in the state, the Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today announced to provide cash-credit limit to the fish farmers, on the pattern of that given to the agriculturists by the Cooperative Banks.Presiding over a series of meetings with the progressive Dairy farmers, piggery, goatry and fisherybeneficiaries here at Punjab Bhawan, the Chief Minister said that it was the need of the hour to promote allied farming sector in the state by extending loans to them. Mr. Badal said had huge potential of fresh water fisheries especially in the southern districts of the state which still remained untapped and hoped that this incentive would certainly help the state to script a new chapter to give much needed impetus for state’s ambitious program of agriculture diversification. He that Punjab had the highest fish productivity in the country as it produces 1.14 lakh ton of fish from capture and culture fisheries adding that this could enhance much more with such incentives thereby supplementing the income of farmers.
The Chief Minister also said that the state government would give 24 hour single power connection to the fish farms as required by the farmers. He also said that the state government would set explore the possibility of setting fish markets in every big city of the state. Likewise, Mr. Badal also underscored the need for setting up fish processing plants in the state for more profits to the fish farmers.Expressing solidarity with the farmers of the state who were facing acute agrarian crisis due to the natural disasters since last few years, the Chief Minister asked the Animal Husbandry department to expedite the process of setting up single window system to promote allied farming activities in the state to supplement the income of farmers on one hand and boost the crop diversification program of the state government on other. He said that on the lines of Bureau of Industrial promotion this single window would act as a facilitation centre for the all the farmers interested in crop diversification through adoption of allied farming activities like dairy, fish, pig and goat rearing. Mr. Badal said that this could act as a catalyst to transform the destiny of the farmers of the state who were facing several hardships on account of the repeated loss of their crop due to the natural disasters in last few years.
In another significant decision, the Chief Minister said that the permission to the Dairy farmers for transporting Cow for milking, breeding or agriculture purpose to the other states should be given within four days of receiving the application by the Deputy Commissioners (DC). He said that in case trade of cattle for these purposes takes place in designated cattle markets then the Deputy Commissioner or his nominee (not below the rank of a PCS officer) must give the NOC for transporting the cattle on the same day. Mr. Badal said that this would enable the Dairy farmers to sell the cattle to the other states in a smooth and hassle free manner.In order to promote the rearing of indigenous breeds of cow like Sahiwal, Gir and others in the state, the Chief Minister also said that a dedicated officer should be appointed for this task. He said that the Animal Husbandry department must compile a database of all the indigenous cows in the state by ensuring the registry of these cattle. Announcing that the state government would give subsidy of chilling machines, pasteurisation plants and Milk ATMs, Mr. Badal also said that clusters of farmers should be constituted for supplying good quality of milk to the consumers.
On the demand of Dairy farmers, the Chief Minister assured them that the state government would raise up the issue with restructuring of their loans with the leading banks. He also announced that during the current fiscal Rs 15 crore would be spent for providing quality medicines for the cattle in all the government Veterinary Hospitals across the state. In order to overcome the problem of green fodder in the state, Mr. Badal asked the Milkfed and PAU to jointly chalk a strategy for overcoming in it.During deliberations with the pig farmers in the state, the Chief Minister asked them to explore the feasibility of setting up a pig and goat meat processing plant anywhere in the state with the active cooperation of the state government. He said that this plant could change the fortune of pig rearers as their profit could increase manifold.Badal also assured the farmers that the state government would take every step to enhance the Research and Development (R&D) in the field of piggery and goatery to benefit the farmers.
The Chief Minister also directed the officers of the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited to ensure that Agriculture-AP Tariff was charged from dairy, fish, pig and goat rearers against the commercial rate as notified by the state government earlier.Meeting was attended by Additional Chief Secretary (Animal Husbandry) Mr. Mandeep Singh Sandhu, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mr. SK Sandhu, Special Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mr. KJS Cheema, Chairman of Punjab Gau Sewa Board Mr Keemti Bhagat, Advisor, Punjab Government on Animal Husbandry Dr. PK Uppal, MD Milkfed Mr. Manjit Singh Brar, Director Animal Husbandry Dr. HS Sandha and Director Fisheries Mr. Madan Mohan.