To bail out the beleaguered peasantry from the current agrarian crisis by promoting allied farming activities in the state, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Wednesday announced to provide cash-credit limit to the fish farmers, on the pattern of that given to the agriculturists by the Cooperative Banks.
Badal, presiding over a series of meetings with progressive dairy farmers, piggery, goatry and fishery beneficiaries, said that it was the need of the hour to promote allied farming sector in the State by extending loans to them.
Punjab had the highest fish productivity in the country as it produces 1.14 lakh tonnes of fish from capture and culture fisheries, and this could enhance much more with such incentives thereby supplementing the income of farmers, he said.
“The State Government would give 24-hour single power connection to the fish farms as required by the farmers. Government would explore the possibility of setting fish markets in every big city of the State,” said Badal while underscoring the need for setting up fish processing plants in the state for more profits to the fish farmers.
Chief Minister also asked the Animal Husbandry department to expedite the process of setting up single window system to promote allied farming activities in the state to supplement the income of farmers on one hand, and boost the crop diversification program of the State Government on other.
He said that on the lines of Bureau of Industrial Promotion, this single window would act as a facilitation centre for the all the farmers interested in crop diversification through adoption of allied farming activities like dairy, fish, pig and goat rearing.
In another significant decision, the Chief Minister said that the permission to the Dairy farmers for transporting cow for milking, breeding or agriculture purpose to the other states should be given within four days of receiving the application by the Deputy Commissioners (DC).
“In case, trade of cattle for these purposes takes place in designated cattle markets, the Deputy Commissioner or his nominee (not below the rank of a PCS officer) must give the NOC for transporting the cattle on the same day. This would enable the dairy farmers to sell the cattle to the other states in a smooth and hassle free manner,” he said.
To promote the rearing of indigenous breeds of cow like Sahiwal, Gir and others in the state, Badal said that a dedicated officer should be appointed for this task. “Animal Husbandry department must compile a database of all the indigenous cows in the State by ensuring the registry of these cattle,” he said.
On dairy farmers’ demand, Badal assured them that the state government would take up the issue with restructuring of their loans with the leading banks. He also announced that during the current fiscal, `15 crore would be spent for providing quality medicines for the cattle in all the government veterinary hospitals across the state.
In order to overcome the problem of green fodder in the state, Badal asked the Milkfed and PAU to jointly chalk a strategy for overcoming in it.
During deliberations with the pig farmers in the state, the Chief Minister asked them to explore the feasibility of setting up a pig and goat meat processing plant anywhere in the state with the active cooperation of the state government.
Badal also directed the officers of the Punjab State Power Corporation limited to ensure that Agriculture-AP Tariff was charged from dairy, fish, pig and goat rearers against the commercial rate as notified by the state government earlier.