Take up dairy business for growth of rural areas, minister tells youth

Punjab Minister for Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Gurmit Singh Khudian today asked officials to visit the educational institutes to encourage the youth to adopt dairy as an occupation to help in the overall development of rural areas in state.

Addressing a seminar here at LPU, Phagwara, on the topic “Role of veterinarian in animal health, animal welfare and uplift of economic status of livestock farmer in Punjab”, the minister said that the Punjab government has launched various schemes to improve livestock productivity as well as milk-based processed products in Punjab. The department is all set to launch a pilot project for indoor facilities to treat livestock in six districts which will be a major step, he said.

Terming snake bite as a major reason for the loss of livestock, the minister also said that the anti-venom treatment would be provided at polyclinics and Tehsil-level hospitals. He also announced that the department has made all necessary arrangements for vaccination drive against the lumpy skin disease (LSD) in animals from next month.

Earlier, Khudian dedicated the newly renovated Civil Animal Hospital in village Khajurala near Phagwara and announced that about 400 veterinary doctors would soon be recruited. A YouTube channel and Facebook page have been launched by the department to raise awareness among livestock owners regarding animal diseases and solutions. On these platforms, veterinary doctors will go live from 11 am to 1 pm to educate farmers on preventing diseases in animals, the minister said.

Aam Aadmi Party leader and former minister Joginder Singh Mann, Deputy Commissioner Amit Kumar Panchal, SSP Gaurav Tura, Director of Animal Husbandry Dr GS Bedi, Additional Deputy Commissioner Virinderpal Singh Bajwa, SDM Jashanjeet Singh, Dr RP Singh and Sarpanch Piara Singh were among those present on the occasion.