Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal on Sunday called upon small and marginal farmers to shift from traditional agriculture to progressive dairy farming to herald the second "white revolution" in the state.
Presiding over the inaugural function of the three-day Dairy and Agri Expo organised by Punjab Dairy Farmers Association (PDFA) here at New Grain Market, Badal said that it was the need of the hour to bring diversification in agriculture by switching over from wheat-paddy rotation to agri-allied sectors.
Badal said conventional agriculture was no longer remunerative and at such a juncture dairy farming seemed to be one of the best alternatives for the farming community. "The state government is also extending all support and cooperation to boost dairy farming, as it would strengthen the state's rural economy," Badal added.
He announced that the Punjab government was providing 50% subsidy on purchase of cows and buffaloes. "It is also giving subsidy to women for construction of sheds for setting up dairies, which is double than the subsidy being provided to male entrepreneurs," he said.
He said that Punjab had tremendous potential to increase milk production, which must be tapped to supply the milk to the processing plants in the cooperative and private sectors for ensuring better prices to the milk producers.
{{/usCountry}}He said that Punjab had tremendous potential to increase milk production, which must be tapped to supply the milk to the processing plants in the cooperative and private sectors for ensuring better prices to the milk producers.
{{/usCountry}}Badal informed that the state government was also trying to tie-up with some foreign companies.