CHANDIGARH: The Punjab Government Thursday finalized a plan to encourage commercial dairy farming by extensively using cross breed cows to make dairying a financially viable proposition for the farmers.

This plan was finalized by Punjab Cooperation Minister Capt. Kanwaljit Singh in a meeting with office bearers of Progressive Dairy Farmers Association, Punjab. It was decided in the meeting to focus on cross breed cows rather than on buffalos with a twin purpose of increasing milk yield and also to control the menace of adulterated milk in the urban areas. The Cooperation Minister said that it was the duty of the Milkfed to ensure sufficient fresh milk supply in the urban areas as well as in the neighboring states like Rajasthan, Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Delhi.

He said that keeping in view the keenness of the farmers in running commercial dairy farms on large scale it was decided to provide them required loan on cheaper rates from Cooperative Banks and technical guidance for setting up of bigger dairy farms which could help in cutting the cost of milk production considerably and getting them remunerative rates.

He revealed that special emphasis would be laid on promoting commercial dairy farms in milk shed areas i.e. 15 kms of any milk plant to save transportation charges to further passing the benefit to the dairy farmers.

He also announced to constitute a special milk price fixation committee in which due representation would be given to commercial dairy farmers and asked them to register their separate cooperative society for getting representation in Board of Directors of Milkfed.

He directed the Milkfed authorities to upgrade the existing milk testing system by introducing electronic machines which could be provided to the milk producing cooperative societies from their profits and ensuring timely payments to the dairy farmers.  

The Minister further informed the he had already taken up the matter of implementation of centrally sponsored schemes for dairy farmers with the Punjab Chief Minister and expressed confidence for positive outcome.

On the issue of providing electricity on subsidized rates to dairy farms, Capt. Singh said that as the dairy farming was an allied occupation and most viable field for much needed diversification in agriculture, he would take up the matter with the Chief Minister.

While reiterating the Cooperation department's firm Commitment to improve the economic position of small and marginal farmers having less than 10 acres holding by encouraging them for dairy farming, Capt. Singh expressed confidence that it was the most viable field for diversification in agriculture that could ensure steady income to the farmers thereby paving the way for their prosperity.

Earlier,  Daljit Singh, President, PDFA gave a brief account of the problems, which were being faced by the commercial dairy farmers and gave an assurance to extend full cooperation to   the State Government and Milkfed to realize the dream of sufficient fresh milk supply through out the state especially in the urban areas.

The meeting was attended by  G.S. Babehalli, MLA & Chairman, Milkfed, Punjab,  Kusumjit Sidhu, Financial Commissioner, Cooperation,  Viswajit Khanna, Registrar Cooperative Societies,  V.K. Singh, MD, Milkfed,  Ajmer Singh Bhagpur, Chairman, Milk Plant, Ludhiana and  Pritpal Singh, Harinder Singh Shahpur, Rajinder Singh, Charr Sahib, Balvir Singh Nawan Shehar, Balraj Singh Malsian, Ranjit Singh Langeana, Gian Singh, Sukhjinder Singh and Parminder Singh Kudani, all progressive dairy farmers.