Chandigarh: The Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today unveiled a massive scheme to put use several acres of water logged land in the Malwa belt optimally, by constructing Ponds for Fisheries under the “Program for Rehabilitation of the Water logged areas”.

Presiding over a high level meeting of the Animal Husbandry and Fishery department here today, the Chief Minister while emphasizing the need for bailing out the farmers of the state through crop diversification, said that special attention needs to paid for helping the farmers of the waterlogged areas, who were battling with the natural tragedy from years. Underscoring the need for extending a helping hand to them, Mr. Badal said that the departments’ of Animal Husbandry and Fisheries with the active help of the GuruAngadDev Veterinary Animal Science University must implement this program with the active support of the farmers.

Further to encourage the farmers of the state towards allied agricultural activities with twin objective of promoting crop diversification on one hand and supplementing the income of farmers through rearing small ruminants on the other, the Chief Minister also gave nod for setting up two ultra modern Goat Breeding centres in the state. Mr. Badal constituted a committee comprising of VC GADVASU, experts of Veterinary sciences and officials of Animal Husbandry department to prepare a blueprint regarding the project. He asked the committee submit its report within a month so that the work on this project could be started at the earliest.

The Chief Minister said that this centre should be established on scientific lines to impart advanced training to the farmers for goat rearing. Likewise he also laid thrust on processing of Goat’s milk by value addition so that the farmers could supplement their income. Mr. Badal also approved the setting up of Goat Breeding Board comprising of representatives of farmers, officers and national level experts of Goattery, to develop high yielding varieties of Goats in the state.

The Chief Minister also asked the committee to explore the potential of piggery in the state so that it could be encouraged amongst the farmers. Likewise Mr. Badal also gave approval for upgrading and strengthening the existing infra structure in three Government pig breeding centres at Nabha, Ferozepur and Gurdaspur by doubling its existing capacity.      

The Chief Minister also asked the MARKFED authorities to provide market support to the Bee Keepers by purchasing the honey besides making provisions for preserving it. He also asked the MARKFED officers to explore the feasibility of setting up a processing unit of Honey in the state so that avenues of trade could be opened for the Bee Keepers. Mr. Badal also asked the officers of the Taxation,Forestand Irrigation department to refrain unnecessary harassment of the bee keepers on one pretext or other.