CHANDIGARH: The Punjab Government is planning to start Pashu Dhan or Kamdhenu award to promote livestock sector in the state and he has also pleaded Union Government to institute awards to motivate livestock farmers and stimulate new era growth and excellence in this area.
Gulzar Singh Ranike, Animal Husbandry Minister in a communiqué to Union Agriculture Minister Mr. Radha Mohan Singh brought his attention to the fact that despite a major stratum of farming community opting for livestock sector as a part of diversification of agriculture sector, there was hardly any incentive from Union Government to motivate them to work for excellence and focus on growth in this sector.
He said that there is no need to emphasize the fact that Livestock sector plays very important role in the upliftment of rural economy through Dairy, Poultry, Piggery, Goatry and Fisheries etc. He said that in the present scenario, growth rate in agriculture sector was almost stagnant and livestock rearing activities have emerged as viable propositions for the diversification of traditional agriculture farming and the farmers were adopting livestock ventures on commercial lines.
He pointed out that Government of India offers awards to various states in different fields like best state award in renewable energy, krishi karman award in food grain productivity in agriculture and in other fields for their outstanding achievements. He regretted that However, livestock sector is not considered adequately. Mr. Ranike requested to Union Agriculture Minister that livestock sector should also be considered for the award by Government of India.
He said that livestock sector is now economically in a better position than agriculture. He said that diversification in agriculture is a need of hour and livestock is expected to emerge as the engine of agricultural growth in the coming year. Moreover demand for animal food products is on increase.
Ranike wrote that India's livestock wealth is still the largest in the world and India is the largest producer of milk. He said that today, the livestock sector contributes 28% of the agriculture GDP and about 5% of the country GDP. The value of output from livestock sector is much higher than the output of paddy and wheat. It is 2.5 times in respect of paddy and more than thrice the value of wheat as per the central statistical office data. India is the second largest producer of fish. Livestock, poultry and related sector also employs 8% of the country labour force. The future of livestock is an emerging enterprise and needs sense of competition among different states.
The Minister said that to increase productivity and visibility of livestock sector, it need that competitive spirit is infused in animal husbandry sector by introducing certain awards like 'Pashu Dhan Award' or 'Kamdhenu Award'. He requested that awards are not clubbed with agriculture, where these sector activities are being diluted out.