A State level mega workshop to conserve the Neeli Raavi Breed of buffalo, which is on the verge of extinction, has been held at the livestock Bhawan, Mohali. Delivering key note address to the gathering of Animal Husbandary, Dairy Development and fisheries Minister Mr. Balbir Singh Sidhu said that the farmer should get the high quality semen doses for their milch animals from the approved Government hospitals of the State. He said that Neeli Raavi is the indigenous breed of buffalo which has the potential to bail out the peasantry reeling under debt.Mr. Balbir Singh Sidhu said that Neeli Raavi Buffalo has always remained the symbol of the prosperity of the farming community in Punjab. The Minister made a passionate appeal to the farmers to domesticate pure breed Neeli Raavi Buffalos. He said that the farmers should take quality semen of Neeli Raavi from the Government approved hospitals.
The Minister further said that the Government has already put a ban on the unauthorized sale of semen under its "Bovine Breeding Act, 2016". He said that the Punjab Government is making all out efforts to prepare high quality sexed semen from high breed bulls through semen sexing technique. He said that through sexed semen the birth of she calves would be guaranteed, which on one hand would increase income of the farmers and on the other hand it would increase the milk production of the State.Animal Husbandry Minister said that the State Government has established regional buffalo research centre at booh village of Tarn Taran district with the cost of Rs. 20 Crore. He said that this centre is equipped with the world class machinery to conduct scientific research to improve the breed of buffalos. Prominent speaker who delivered their lecture included Mr. Harkesh Sharma, political secretary of Animal Husbandry Minister, Dr. Inderjit Singh Director CIRB Hisar, Dr. Amarjit Singh Direcor Animal Husbandry, Mr. Inderjit Singh Director Dairy Development, Dr. Madan Mohal Director Fisheries, Dr. Tejvir Singh Randhawa Project Quardinator and Dr. Ranjodhan Singh Sahota.