“The modernized and scientific dairy farming can be an effective alternative to the current agricultural practices. The Punjab Government has carried out modernization of the animal farms as well as animal semen banks of the department in order to strengthen the dairy farming and animal husbandry sector. This initiative is showing positive results in the State.”Disclosing this here today, the Animal Husbandry, Fisheries and Dairy Development Minister, Punjab, Mr. Balbir Singh Sidhu said that the Punjab Government is beginning the next batch of training of farmers in the modernized dairy farming methods from 14th January, given the fact that today’s era demands adoption of scientific and latest techniques. He also said that the state government is also providing subsidy under the ‘Dairy Entrepreneurship Development Scheme’ to the farmers so as to help them set up the new units of dairy farming. Under the scheme, the beneficiary farmers can make a purchase of milch animals, Milk Extracting Machines, Equipments pertaining to dairy apart from establishing units with regard to she-buffaloes and she-calves. For this purpose, the general category people get 25 percent while SC category get 33 percent subsidy.
He also divulged that the state government has so far credited the subsidy worth Rs. 11.25 crore directly into the bank accounts of the beneficiaries.Giving more information regarding the dairy farming training, the Director, Dairy Development Department, Mr. Inderjeet Singh said that the next batch of the 4 week training would begin at the Dairy Training & Extension Centre in Bija (Ludhiana), Chatamli (Ropar), Gill (Moga), Abul Khurana (Sri Muktsar Sahib), Sardulgarh (Mansa), Phagwara (Kapurthala) and Verka (Amritsar). The trainees would be selected in the counselling at the above said training centres on the 11th of January, 2019 at 10 AM. Those youth would be eligible for the training who have minimum qualification of matric standard between 18-45 years of age and have a dairy farm of atleast 5 milch animals. The prospectus costing Rs. 100 are available at all the training centres besides the Deputy Director Dairy/Dairy Development Officer of the concerned district. Detailed information concerning training can be had from the telephone no. 0172-5027285 and 2217020 of the Dairy Development Board’s headquarter.