Special units to be set up to encourage dairy farming in Patiala

PATIALA: To boost the dairy industry in the state, the state Dairy Department has formulated a plan to encourage dairy farming focussing on maintaining high yielding Desi/local breeds of cows like Sahiwal and Rathi. As many as 21 applications have been received under this new scheme from district Patiala.

Disclosing this here today Deputy Director Dairy Department, Mr. Ashok Rauni said that during the current financial year 2015-16 this scheme was launched on experimental basis in 12 districts of Punjab including Patiala. District Patiala imparted training to educate people towards maintaining these cows to the interested people. He said that people were attracted towards this venture in keeping with the rising demand of cow’s milk and milk products both at national and domestic levels. This trend would also enhance their income, he said.

Adding further Mr. Rauni said that the department was also in the process of setting up of special cow units where two week’s free training regarding breeding, feeding, management, cattle health, clean milk production, milk products preparations, Marketing etc. would be imparted, mechanical feeding, fodder harvester including the 50% subsidy offered by the government.

He also said that the cows would be covered under three years’ insurance scheme. They would be given necessary medical aid including the vaccination, de-worming etc. Besides this the state would impart education regarding breed improving, composition of milk products, balanced feed management and look after of milch animals. The training would mainly focus to make them aware of latest technological development in the sector.