Committee to review farm gate milk price in Punjab

Chandigarh, Jan 30 (UNI) The Punjab Government today decided to constitute a permanent committee to review the farm gate milk price periodically with reference to the cost of production.

A decision to this effect was taken here by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal while chairing a joint meeting of dairy, poultry and fish farmers.

The cost of production will be estimated on the basis of breed, region and season by the Guru Angad Dev Veterinary&Animal Sciences University (GADVASU).

It was decided in the meeting to vest powers for the prevention of adulteration in liquid milk to the dairy development department concurrently with the state health department.

The Chief Minister assured the farmers that he will soon take up their case of exemption from income tax with the Union Ministry of Finance on the pattern of agriculture as the income accrued from allied farming should also be exempted from the income tax.

Mr Badal agreed to the proposal of the dairy farmers for the upgradation/construction of two cattle mandis every year with the financial assistance from Cattle Fair Fund.

He desired that a uniform design/pattern should be adopted for the purpose and suggested to utilise the services of a dairy consultant or an expert architect in the field to create infrastructure for dairy development in a meaningful manner.

The Chief Minister asked the board to regularly organise animal fairs and milk competitions to encourage dairy farming amongst the farmers of the state.

Mr Badal conceded to the demand of the dairy farmers to allow them to import semen of superior quality bulls directly from the reputed companies across the globe. He said that he will soon take up the matter with the Department of Animal Husbandry in the Union Agriculture Ministry to grant permission to the dairy farmers in this regard.

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