Chandigarh, June 25:
In a major boost to dairy farming sector in the state, the Punjab Dairy Development department has achieved a significant milestone by insuring 30,598 milch cattle across the state in just one year to provide crucial financial security to dairy farmers and safeguarding their livelihoods, informed S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian, Minister of Animal Husbandry, Dairy Development and Fisheries, Punjab.
While reviewing the ongoing projects of the department here at his office, on Wednesday, S. Khudian further shared that the National Livestock Mission’s Risk Management and Livestock Insurance Scheme offers premium rates of Rs 1,120 for general farmers and Rs 672 for SC/ST farmers annually, with a maximum claim limit of Rs 70,000 per cattle. To date, Rs 7.39 crore has been disbursed to 1,056 farmers for providing crucial financial support to affected dairy farmers.
Reiterating the Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann led Punjab Government’s commitment to dairy farmers’ welfare, S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian directed the officials to proactively educate youth about dairy farming and inform them about departmental schemes to ensuring maximum benefits reach the grassroots level.
Principal Secretary Animal Husbandry Mr. Rahul Bhandari apprised the cabinet minister that Rs. 3 crore has been disbursed to 204 dairy farmers in FY 2024-25 for establishing dairy units with 2-20 animals. Additionally, 9,150 unemployed youth have been imparted with dairy training to make them self-employed. He further shared that 47 state and district-level seminars and camps were conducted to educate livestock farmers on insurance scheme’s benefits, claim procedures and livestock health management, thereby boosting participation and trust.
Director Dairy Development Kuldeep Singh and other senior officials of the department were also present in the meeting.
