Gulzar Singh Ranike, Animal Husbandry Minister, Punjab today said that the state Government has chalked out an ambitious plan to motivate maximum rural youth to adopt dairy farming as a profession and directed the field Veterinary Officers to personally visit at least thrice in a week in Rural Areas to have actual information regarding scope for promotion of dairy farming and other allied professions like fishery, goat rearing and piggery etc.
Presiding over a high level meeting of Animal Husbandry Department held here today, Mr. Ranike directed the field officers to keep close eye on any outbreak of common animal diseases like foot and mouth disease (FMD) and Hemorrhagic Septicemia (HS) and asked them to advise dairy farmers regarding precautionary measures to be undertaken in this regard. He asked the field officers to collect maximum data so that it could be used in chalking out future strategies. He also asked them to publicise about the availability of high quality imported semen so that maximum dairy farmers could avail it for their milch-cattles to further enhance their milk yield besides getting quality calves. The Minister pointed out that all the three departments namely Animal Husbandry, Dairy Development and Fisheries should work in consonance and hold district level camps jointly.
Emphasizing the need for strengthening the fodder wings, Mr. Ranike asked the field officers to provide high quality fodder seeds to dairy farmers. He also directed them to prepare a comprehensive calendar for vaccination schedule for FMD and HS and to implement it in true letter and spirit.The Animal Husbandry Minister pointed out that keeping in view the hi-potential of goat rearing and piggery, it becomes imperative for us to promote model farms of Goat Rearing and Piggery as both these were emerging occupations with tremendous potential for growth.
Ranike also directed the field Veterinary Officers to ensure maximum usage of 20 mobile vans equipped with latest medicines and techniques at district headquarters to provide better Rural Veterinary Services to the dairy farmers based in rural areas. He also directed the Deputy Directors of the department to submit weekly reports regarding implementation of various ongoing schemes so that there should not be any laxity on the part of any field veterinary officer.
Earlier Mr. G. Vajralingum, Financial Commissioner Animal Husbandry, Fishery and Dairy Development reviewed the performance of field veterinary officers and briefed about the future projects to be undertaken by the departments. The meeting was also attended by Mr. V.K. Meena, Secretary Animal Husbandry, Fisheries and Dairy Development and Director Dr. H.S. Sandha.