Farmers advised to form self-help...

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, February 19

Guru Gobind Singh Refinery (GGSR), in association with the Animal Husbandry Department, organised a livestock breed competition at Malkana village here. The event saw a participation of more than 450 head of cattle.

Encouraging local farmers to supplement their income by rearing good quality animals, the refinery had held the event under its corporate social responsibility initiative. 

Speaking on the occasion, Amrik Singh, Deputy Director, Animal Husbandry Department, Bathinda, said there was a huge scope of doubling farmers’ income by improving the efficiency of production and the quality of animal rearing. He stressed on the need for having trained human resource. The official also spoke about breeds recommended by the department such as beetle goat for a profitable venture. He emphasised that farmers should form self-help groups and adopt new methods of milk production, processing, value addition and marketing.

Vishwa Mohan Prasad, AGM, CSR, HPCL-Mittal Energy Limited, and Avtar Singh Mehal, veterinary officer, GGSR, said the refinery was providing veterinary services at farmers’ doorsteps, especially small and marginal farmers. He added that farmers were encouraged to shift from traditional farming to allied agricultural activities so that they could get better returns.

Waheguru Pal Singh, PRO, GGSR, said 39 prizes in various categories of cow, buffalo and goat breeds were given away at the event. In the coming days, more such competitions would be organised at Bagha, Sekhu and Raman villages in Punjab and Hassu and Naurang in Haryana, he added.