National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) will provide a credit flow of Rs. 400 crore to the Punjab's dairy sector during the next three years to boost milk production and promote dairy farming in the state, an official release said on Monday.
NABARD has identified
three districts -- Ludhiana, Jalandhar and Ropar for modernisation and capacity building in the dairy sector, it said.
NABARD is in the process of redefining the concept of dairy sector as commercial activity rather than calling it as allied agriculture activity, the release said.
It said that milking machines will be provided to dairy farmers, milk coolers would also be given to both farmers and societies, under the project.
Punjab's dairy farming has 9 % share in the country's milk output with less than 2 % livestock, it said. Per capita availability of milk in the state stood at 931 gm, which is highest in the country, it added.
For cheaper and economic milk production, resources of green fodder will be further developed in the state for sustainable dairy farming.
The government will provide about 30,000 quintals fodder seeds to the farmers annually for enhancing green fodder production, it said.