The 8th National Livestock Championship and Expo 2016 has witnessed a footfall of 1.5 lacs people so far who have thronged to the venue to be a part of this gala event being held in collaboration with FICCI. Visitors have evinced keen interest in ways to improve the cows' breed and are watching various competitions in different categories.Director animal husbandry Dr HS Sandha said that people have shown keen interest in the various parts of this event. Besides holding competitions of animal in different categories, color is being added to the mela with special arrangements. The artists of North India are presenting various folk dances and the horse riders have stolen show with their daredevil acts.
FICCI regional head Mr G B Singh said that this event was one of the main attractions of animal husbandry held at the national level wherein 175 companies, banks, government departments, self help groups have put up their stalls bringing products, services and information under one roof.
The government department stalls are disseminating information about various policies and schemes of government. The Sahiwal Cattle Society is also giving information about the indigenous variety of cows and farmers are showing keen interest in this stall. People are also being made aware against adulteration of milk that causes sever health problems. Similarly, the drug manufacturing companies are educating farmers on lines of prevention is better than cure. Companies related to feed and fodder are giving information about the animal's diet. The American and Italian companies have reached with tools meant for fodder cutting, which are helpful even for the small farmers. Similarly, people are also being made aware of the communicable diseases that are passed from animals to human beings. Similarly institutes related to banking and insurance have put up their stalls. Giving information in this context IDBI Bank's CGM Mr Ajay Sharma said the show was a very constructive initiative of the Punjab government wherein farmer related issues have been clubbed together on same platform.