Dairy farming holds vast potential for entrepreneurship, sustainable income: VC Gill

Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (GADVASU), Ludhiana, successfully completed an intensive two-week dairy farming training programme, which received an overwhelming response with 63 participants, including five women from Punjab, along with two participants from Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh.

Presiding over the valedictory function, Dr JPS Gill, Vice0Chancellor emphasised the university's commitment to empowering livestock farmers by delivering scientific knowledge, skill-based training and practical solutions. Dairy farming, being the cornerstone of Punjab’s agrarian economy, holds vast promise for self-employment, entrepreneurship and sustainable income generation, particularly for rural youth and women. He underlined the importance of value-addition through diversified milk products, which can open new avenues of income with higher profitability.

Dr RS Grewal, Director of Extension Education, reiterated the university’s dedication to strengthening rural livelihoods through livestock-based enterprises. He stressed that dairying not only contributed to household nutrition but also played a crucial role in enhancing rural prosperity and employment opportunities.

Dr Jaswinder Singh, Course Director and HoD, vet extension education, said key areas covered, included modern housing systems for dairy cattle, balanced ration formulation, mastitis prevention and control, vaccination schedules, clean milk production, reproductive health, biosecurity measures and marketing strategies for milk and value-added products.

A special session was conducted by a team from Bank of Baroda, Shavinder Chhabra, senior bank manager, PAU branch, along with his team, guided participants on financial schemes and loan facilities tailored to livestock-based enterprises. Surinder Singh, Deputy Director, Dairy development, Punjab, highlighted the efforts of the department and gave an insightful lecture on the ongoing schemes and interventions for the livestock farmers.

Dr RK Sharma, Director of the Regional Research and Training Centre, Talwara, motivated the trainees with his constructive advice. The training was meticulously coordinated by Dr Ravdeep Singh and Dr RK Sharma with support from student coordinator Dr Gursimranjit Singh.