The fourth international dairy show and
exhibition organised by the Progressive Dairy Farmers’ Association (PDFA),
concluded here on Monday. Thousands of farmers from across the state
visited the show in which over 100 companies displayed their products,
including medicines, feeds, machinery and technical know-how.
Addressing the closing ceremony, minister for
dairy development, animal husbandry and fish farming Gulzar Singh
Ranike said: “With a view to strengthen economic conditions of farmers
the Punjab government is implementing three major programmes. Dairy
farming is more profitable than agriculture”.
A two-day seminar on “New technologies in
commercial dairy farming”, presided over by Punjab State Farmers’
Commission (PSFC) chairman GS Kalkat, was also conducted. It laid
stress on commercial dairy farming instead of traditional dairy
farming.
Over 1,000 women participated in the seminar on
the second day, which was specially devoted to “women’s empowerment in
dairy development” in Punjab. Teams of experts advised them on many
issues.
Ranike said the government was committed to
develop dairy farming in the state. “Farmers should take up allied
activities such as dairy farming, piggeries, beekeeping, poultry and
horticulture”. Listing advantages of the dairy farming he said, “There
is no dearth now of good vaccines, sperms, medicines, feeds and
technology available to farmers. Imported semen is being imported and
distributed free among farmers to improve cattle breed and
productivity. The Punjab government has spent over Rs 2.5 crore on
animal fairs to encourage farmers to take up allied activities”
He added the government plans to open ten more
animal husbandry polytechnics.
PDFA president Daljit Singh Sadarpura said the
association is committed to improve the lot of the state’s dairy
farmers. Among those who visited the show were Punjab finance minister
Manpreet Singh Badal, principal secretary DS Bains, Ludhiana deputy
commissioner Vikas Garg and Dairy Development Board finance
commissioner Gurinderjit Singh Sandhu.
