7TH NATIONAL LIVESTOCK CHAMPIONSHIP BEGINS AT SRI MUKTSAR SAHIB
64 COMPETITIONS TO BE HELD IN NEXT FIVE DAYS
SIX SEMINARS TO BE CONDUCTED IN THREE DAYS
FOR THE FIRST TIME INTERNATIONAL COMPANIES PUT UP EXHIBITION WITH PHD CHAMBER
NewZNew (Sri Muktsar Sahib) : To encourage animal husbandry business in Punjab the 7th National Livestock Championship has begun in the grounds of Guru Gobind Singh Stadium at Government College here today. The five-day fair would witness participation from Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Gujrat, Jammu & Kashmir, Assam, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh etc wherein more than 6000 people dealing in animal husbandry are participating with full enthusiasm. Rs 1.25 cr worth prizes would be distributed during championship to the winners.
Speaking at the event the Animal Husbandry Minister Mr Gulzar Singh Ranike said that the Chief Minister Punjab Mr Parkash Singh Badal started the livestock championships seven years ago to usher in diversification in agriculture sector and offer farmers agriculture allied business like dairy farming. Starting from district level, the event has attained national cult and carved a niche for itself. He added that such fairs proved very helpful in buoying the economy of a state. During the next five days milking championships of buffaloes, cows and goats would be held. Also various contests of horses, buffaloes, cows, goats, sheep, dogs, turkeys, cocks etc.
Mr Ranike said for the first time in collaboration with PHD Chamber, around 150 international and national companies are putting up their exhibition stalls giving pivotal information regarding animal husbandry. The event would also see papers being presented on animal’s health, pig rearing, goat rearing, dairy farming, fishery, diet and fodder and food processing.
The Animal Husbandry Minister said that with the help of rural development and panchayat department Rs4.20 cr is being spent on holding this event. To encourage pig and goat rearing in state, the pig and goat development board is being set up. The Punjab’s dairy farmers are producing 9675 thousand tonnes of milk annually making Punjab one of the pioneer states in milk production. To save animals from foot and mouth disease in the year 2014-15 140 lac vaccines were administered free of cost.
Mr Ranike said that filling in the technical posts, the state government recruited around 300 veterinary doctors and around 400 veterinary inspectors. Also in order to meet with the future demands of professionals, the state government is setting up new veterinary college at a cost of Rs 69.60 cr. Besides this eight modern animal markets have been established in state and Rs 2 cr has been set up for every market. He added that eight dairy training centers are being run in the state wherein 6000 students get trained in dairy farming. Every year the government holds more than 700 milk production awareness camps.
Presiding over the function, the Chief Parliamentary Secretary, animal husbandry department, Mr Desraj Dhugga said that the government is offering many subsidies to encourage dairy farming and animal husbandry in the state. The female farmers are offered 50 percent subsidy for setting up dairy farming ventures. MLA Mr Harpreet Singh, jathedar Dyal Singh Kolianwali chairman Punjab Agro, Mr Manjit Singh Barkand senior Akali leader and chairman Mr Tejinder Singh Middukhera also addressed the gathering.
Earlier the finance commissioner Mr Mandeep Singh Sandhu and secretary Mr V K Meena welcomed the dignitaries and participants at the event. Prominent among others present at the event included Mr Kanwarjit Singh Rozy Barkandi Malwa zone president youth Akali Dal, Mr Hardeep Singh Dimpy Dhllon chairman district planning board, Mr Sant Singh Brar senior leader, Jathedar Navtej Singh Kaoni senior leader, Deputy Commissioner Mr Jaskiran Singh, additional deputy commissioner Captain Karnail Singh, director animal husbandry department Mr H S Sandhwa, director daily development Mr Inderjit Singh and director fishery department Mr V K Sood and others. Cultural program was also presented at the event.
