DC Kapurthala, DS Mangat.
Kapurthala, June 13, 2013: 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 need to make a shift from the traditional agriculture to the dairy farming.
Disclosing this here today, DS Mangat Deputy Commissioner 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.
Stressing upon the need for strengthening Dairy sector from grass root level Deputy Commissioner said that government is also encouraging women in the organised dairy sector.
Mangat said that under the policy to promote dairy farming 113 new dairy units were established in the district and financial assistance of Rs 7.96 crore was given in the year 2012-13 for developing dairy farming by different banks. Deputy Commissioner added that during this period technical training was given for bringing up 18 cattle sheds for which 15 lakh subsidies were also given.
Deputy Commissioner said that under the self employment programme Dairy Development Department gives technical training at dairy training centre at Phagwara to the interested in adopting dairy farming also provides loan from banks. He said that 169 persons were given Dairy training at during the year 2012-13. He said that under the cattle insurance scheme 3 year insurance is done and 75 subsidies were also given on insurance scheme. Under this scheme Rs 4.50 lac insurance money was distributed to the farmers.
Deputy Commissioner further said that 764 dairy farmers were trained during the 6 dairy development camps organized in the district. He said that to maintain the quality of milk with the help of milk testing mobile van 410 samples of milk and 254 samples of cattle feed were tested during the last year.