Punjab news: How a Kathunangal farmer cracked the dairy code

During Punjab’s prolonged agrarian crisis, governments have repeatedly encouraged farmers to diversify beyond the wheat-paddy cultivation cycle and adopt more profitable occupations. Despite this, only a limited number of cultivators are willing to leave assured cash crops and step into other agri businesses seen as risky.

Even as many ordinary farming families have stopped keeping household milch animals, commercial dairy farming continues to face serious challenges that only a few manage to overcome.

One such success story has emerged from Kathunangal village, where farmer Jatinder Pal Singh has carved out a distinct identity as a progressive milk producer by accepting every challenge of the dairy sector with determination.

Starting with just four animals several years ago, he now owns 85 milch Holstein Friesian (HF) cows and produces nearly 1,000 litres of milk every day. What sets his farm apart is the scale of mechanisation and scientific management. From cattle care, segregation of animals, fodder and feed distribution, silage preparation, milking operations and dung management to maintaining a suitable environment and protecting animals from diseases, almost every process is fully mechanised on the lines of modern European dairy farms.

Jatinder Pal Singh said agriculture was his ancestral profession, while his father also worked as an Arhtiya (commission agent) in grain markets. He himself spent years in conventional farming and commission work, but always wanted to do something different.

That vision has now turned into a growing enterprise. He is currently constructing a new shed with capacity for 150 cows and believes the hard work and practical experience gained over the years have been the real keys to his success.

Sharing advice for newcomers, he said farmers interested in dairy farming should begin on a small scale with a limited number of milch animals. He suggested that aspirants should first undergo training from veterinary universities, colleges or the Animal Husbandry Department before investing in the business.

“If someone has no training or experience, it is better to begin with buffaloes instead of cows, as buffalo farming carries relatively less risk. Once experience is gained, herd size can gradually be increased,” he said.

Admitting that milk prices were not always satisfactory, he added that once the basic infrastructure was developed, operations became easier and more sustainable. However, he stressed that no compromise could be made in feeding and upkeep of cows, even if any dairy owner was not making good profit.

According to him, the spread of diseases such as Lumpy Skin Disease and Foot-and-Mouth Disease, along with delays in prevention and control measures, remained one of the biggest threats to the dairy industry.

Jatinder Pal Singh has also moved towards waste-to-wealth solutions. After installing a mechanical dung management system, he has now set up a vermicompost unit to convert cattle waste into manure. He also prepares silage for his animals on the farm itself.

He credited institutions such as the Dairy Development Board, Progressive Dairy Farmers Association (PDFA) and Verka for extending valuable support during his journey to success.

At a time when many farmers hesitate to move beyond traditional crops, the dairy farm at Kathunangal stands as an example of how technology, planning and persistence can turn diversification into a sustainable rural enterprise.