Chandigarh, September 14:
The Punjab Government sought a special financial package to establish a Centre of Excellence for research and breed improvement of Buffaloes to further boost the dairy sector in the state.
This demand was raised by Mr. Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa, Punjab Animal Husbandry Minister during his meeting with Mr. Purshotam Rupala, Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying today at Krishi Bhawan here.
Mr. Bajwa informed the Union Minister that the environmental and geographical conditions of Punjab are more suitable and adaptable for buffaloes than other milch animals for setting up of the Centre of Excellence for research and breed improvement of Buffaloes would benefit the dairy farmers manifolds by adding their income, said Bajwa.
Likewise, Mr. Tript Bajwa put up a demand for 100% subsidy for the state of Punjab under RGM (RASHTRIYA GOKUL MISSION), for the Development and conservation of indigenous bovine breeds, Genetic up-gradation of bovine population, and enhancement of milk production and Productivity of bovines.
Mr. Bajwa demanded 100 percent funding from the Central Government under the Establishment of the Veterinary Hospital and Dispensary (ESVHD-MVU) Scheme to purchase 70 Mobile Veterinary Units for Punjab to provide door to door emergency services to the livestock farmers.
Mr. Bajwa put forward the urgent requirement to allocate funds under the GOI scheme to establish an A-Grade Semen station at 100-acre Kullemajra Farm of the department in Patiala District.
He demanded funds required for the production of sex-sorted semen at A – Grade Semen Station Nabha through Mobile Sex Sorting Units for the production of Sex Sorted Semen doses for use in cattle and Buffaloes. This will drastically check the numbers of male calves born and control stray cattle menace in years to come.
Mr. Bajwa also appealed to the Union Minister to approve and release the required funds under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojna (RKVY ) for the project to be submitted to GoI for Repair and Renovation of 100 Veterinary Hospitals and 100 Veterinary Dispensaries in Punjab.
Mr. Bajwa strongly demanded from GoI to provide100% financial assistance to the Dairy Farmers of the State for insurance to cover up to 20 cattle buffaloes and up to 100 sheep/goats/pigs on a unit basis.
Mr. Tript Bajwa informed that the Punjab Government has already requested the GoI to include dairy machinery under SMAM (Sub-mission of Agriculture Mechanization) because there were specific machines and technologies which are exclusively used in the dairy sector viz. Silage Making Machine (Balers) Bulk Milk Coolers, Total Mixed Ration Machine, Milking Machines, Milking Parlor, Automatic Milk Dispensing Unit, etc., which is provided at subsidized cost can help a lot to promote modern dairy practices in the State.
Mr. Bajwa added that Keeping in view regarding considerations for the importance of livestock contribution in the GDP of the state urged for a special 100% GoI scheme for the new construction of veterinary hospitals and veterinary dispensaries in the state.
Mr. Rupala has given consent to most of the proposals put up by Mr. Bajwa. Union Minister also directed the concerned authorities to resolve the other pending issues at the earliest.
Additional Chief Secretary, Animal Husbandry Mr. V.k.Janjua, MD Milkfed Mr. Kamaldeep Singh Sangha, Director Animal Husbandry Dr. H.S Kahlon, Director Dairies Sh. Karnail Singh was also accompanied, Mr. Bajwa.
