Punjab Animal Husbandry, Fish Farming and Dairy Development Minister Gulzar Singh Ranike on Tuesday called upon the farmers to opt for commercial dairy units on a big scale to supplement their income.
Addressing a group of progressive farmers who called upon him to seek guidance to set up modern scientific dairy units in all districts of Punjab as a chain supply venture, Ranike said that in the present economic scenario where farming was fast becoming unviable economic venture, it was imperative for farmers to go for diversification in dairy sector to sustain themselves.
“Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has instructed to tailor-made commercial dairy schemes to make them suitable for small medium and large farmers. Dairy development department has evolved commercial dairy schemes keeping in view the new farming economic scenario of Punjab,” he said.
Ranike said that the State Government has been providing subsidies to encourage the farmers for dairy farming. “It is a matter of great pride that Punjab has attained second position in milk production as it contributed eight percent of the total milk production in the country and with the new commercial diary units, Punjab is making fast strides to emerge as top milk producer of the country,” he added.
The Minister said that under women empowerment scheme, the household ladies are been provided 50 per cent subsidy for the purchase of 10-20 milch cattle, cattle shed milking machines and fodder harvester.
Dairy development department has also been facilitating the farmers to get financial aid at 33 per cent lower interest rate than the other commercial banks for setting up a commercial dairy unit of 10 or more milch cattle. “For the purchase of machines to milk cattle 50 percent subsidy is also been provided…For a machine to milk one cattle at-a-time, there is provision of Rs15,000 as subsidy where as for the purchase of special machine to milk two cattle at-a-time subsidy worth Rs20,000 given,” he said.
The Minister said that for the purchase of single fodder harvest machine 50 per cent subsidy is given. “The department provides 50 per cent subsidy to the farmers who produces more than 200 litres milk daily to set up cold chain for chilling,” he said. To encourage the farmers to set up bio-gas plants, the department provides 50 percent subsidy and the maximum limit under this scheme is up to 3.50 lakh. The Minister said that the department is also imparting training to the farmers to produce, cheese, ghee, butter etc.
Enthused by Minister’s encouragement, the farmers promised dairy development Minister to make Punjab numero-uno state in milk production with the active support of the state government.