Dairy News

114 new dairy units established in Punjab’s heritage district

Saturday, 29/06/2013

http://epaper.dailypostindia.com/Details.aspx?id=73473&boxid=57457&uid=&dat=2013-06-29

Punjab, which heralded the Green Revolution, is now set to launch a white revolution in the state, as Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has emphasised the need to make a shift from the traditional agriculture to dairy farming.

Disclosing this, D S Mangat, Deputy Commissioner Kapurthala said that government would focus on encouraging dairy sector, setting up organised dairy farms, reorienting procurement of raw milk, scientific collection and chilling chain, ultra modern milk processing facilities, value addition of milk products and effective marketing network. Also, CM Punjab in a recent visit to Begowal(Kapurthala) revealed that Punjab government planned to set up 500 dairy farming units across Punjab only through women and these units would be facilitated with subsidy in abundance.

Stressing upon the need for strengthening dairy sector from grassroots level, Mangat said that government is also encouraging women in the organised dairy sector. The DC stated that under the policy to promote dairy farming, 114 new dairy units were established in the district and financial assistance of Rs 5.90 crore was given in the year 2012-13 for developing dairy farming by different banks.

Mangat also added that during this period, technical training was given for bringing up 10 cattle sheds for which 15 lakh subsidies were also given. He also added that under the self employment programme, the Dairy Development Department gives technical training at dairy training centre at Phagwara to those interested in adopting dairy farming and also provides loans from banks. He said that 137 persons were given dairy farming training during the year 2012-13.

He said that under the cattle insurance scheme, a 3 year insurance is done and 75 subsidies are also given on insurance scheme. Under this scheme, Rs 4.50 lac insurance money was distributed to the farmers.

The Deputy Commissioner further said that 948 dairy farmers were trained during the 5 dairy development camps organised in the district. He said that to maintain the quality of milk with the help of milk testing mobile van, 417 samples of milk and 110 samples of cattle feed were tested during the last year.