Animal Husbandry, Fisheries, Dairy Development and Labour Minister Punjab Balbir Singh Sidhu said that under the able guidance of Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Captain Amarinder Singh, Punjab will again become prosperous state with the help of allied occupations including dairy, poultry and fishery. He added that the Punjab Government has also been committed to provide benefit of each and every scheme to the eligible construction worker in the state. He was here at Hadiaya, on Saturday, to preside over a ‘Calf Rally’ as a chief guest organised by animal husbandry department. He also visited Tapa town to distribute informative letters of direct benefit transferred (under DBT scheme) in the bank accounts of beneficiaries of Barnala under BOCW Act. S. Balbir Singh Sidhu said to get rid of the agricultural crises and to trim down the number of farm suicides, a special focus has been put upon the allied businesses by Punjab government. “The farmers should adapt themselves according to the changing socio-economic conditions and must do the marketing of their produce to fetch justifiable price in the global market. It is high time for the farmers to realize that they have to break the vicious cycle of wheat-paddy cultivation and have to opt for subsidiary occupations like pig farming, goatery, fishery, poultry and dairy farming,” said Mr. Balbir Singh Sidhu.
Cabinet minister said that the farmers must not depend on the middle men instead they should master the skills of marketing to sell their produce in the open market to fetch more profit from their yield. He said that the State Government has earmarked Rs. 2.20 Crore for setting up 110 units of pig farming. He said that in one unit 20 female pigs and 4 male pigs are being provided by the government.S. Sidhu said that Punjab Government was also running various schemes for construction and other workers of the state and the registration of the workers under BOCW Act was on full swing in the state. He said that as many as 5423 construction workers and their dependents have been provided financial assistance of more than 8.4 crore Rupees under BOCW Act in Barnala district during fiscal year 2017-18.On this occasion, SSP Harjit Singh, Director Animal Husbandry Dr. Amarjit Singh, Director Dairy Development Dr. Inderjit Singh, Political Secretary to Animal Husbandry Minister Mr. Hakesh Chand Sharma Machhli Kalan, Deputy Director Animal Husbandry (Poultry) Dr. Harsh Mohan Walia, Assistant Labor Commissioner Sarabjot Singh Sidhu, Deputy Director Animal Husbandry Dr. Binny Jindal, DSP Rajesh Chibbar among various others were also present.