Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today called upon the small and marginal farmers to shift from the traditional agriculture towards progressive dairy farming to herald the second white revolution in the state.The Chief Minister was presiding over the inaugural function three day Dairy and Agri-Expo organized by Punjab Dairy Farmers’ Association (PDFA) here at New Grain Market today.Addressing a mammoth gathering of the Progressive dairy farmers from across the state, Mr. Badal said that it was the need of the hour to bring persification in agriculture sector by switching over from wheat-paddy rotation to agri-allied sectors because the conventional agriculture was no longer remunerative due to continually squeezing margins of profit and at such a juncture dairy farming seems to be one of the best alternative for the farming community. The state government was also extending all support and cooperation to boost dairy farming, as it would also give much needed impetus for strengthening the state’s rural economy, added Mr. Badal. He announced that the Punjab Government was providing 50% subsidy on the purchase of Cows & Buffalos besides the construction of sheds to the women for the setting up their Dairies, which is double than the subsidy being provided to the mail entrepreneurs.
Stressing on the dire need for improving the quality of cows and buffalos bread to increase the milk production the Chief Minister asked the Animal Husbandry & Dairy Development department to chalk out a comprehensive joint plan in unison with all the stakeholders including Punjab livestock Development Board, Punjab Dairy Development Board, Milkfed, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary & Animal Sciences University Ludhiana and Punjab Agricultural University Ludhiana, so that through an extensive research novel techniques of artificial insemination could be introduced as per the climatic requirements of our state to produce better quality of milch cattle with high milk production. The Chief Minister also mentioned that the state government would soon notify its new animal breeding policy.
He said that the state government was providing sex semen for cattle to the farmers at 50% subsidy and during last four years had provided 5.61 lac doses of Holstein Friesian (HF) semen to the Commercial Dairy Farms after importing from America, Canada and France. Likewise, to ensure quality service Rs. 13 Crore had been spent to setup Veterinary Poly-Clinics in the state. He pointed out that the milk production of buffalos has drastically reduced as compared to Neeli and Murrah breeds, which gave milk on an average of 20 to 22 kg. He said that Punjab had a tremendous potential to increase the milk production, which must be taped to supply the milk to the processing plants in the cooperative and private sectors for ensuring better prices to the milk producers. He said that the Milkfed had also initiated the process to upgrade its milk plants on the modern lines to cope with the enhanced milk handling capacity, which would ultimately result in heavy profits from processing of milk and milk products.
The Chief Minister also informed that the state Government was also trying to tie-up with some foreign companies pioneer in the field of dairy farming to develop dairy sector in a holistic manner through providing technical know-how and managerial skills to its dairy farmers in the state. He mentioned that dairy farming could prove to be a blessing for the farmers with small land holdings in the state.Mr. Badal also appreciated the efforts of PDFA for being associated with about 6000 Commercial Dairy farmers.On the occasion, President Progressive Dairy Farmers Association Mr. Daljit Singh Sadarpura welcomed the Chief Minister and appreciated for the great concern shown by him for the development of the Dairy sector.Prominent amongst those present on the occasion included Chairman Punjab State Farmers’ Commission Dr. GS Kalkat, MLAs Mr. SR Kaler, Mr. Manpreet Singh Ayali, Director Dairy Development Mr. Inderjit Singh.