Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana will confer three awards to progressive livestock farmers of the state in the upcoming Pashu Palan Mela on 14th of September 2023. Dr. Parkash Singh Brar, Director of Extension Education said that Vet Varsity is making all efforts for the development of the livestock sector in the state by strengthening its extension and outreach programmes. In order to motivate various categories of livestock farmers, the University has instituted Chief Minister’s Awards in various categories of livestock farming. During the upcoming Pashu Palan Mela – September 2023, three CM Awards which are to be conferred to progressive livestock farmers are 'CM Award in Cattle Farming, CM Award in Poultry Farming and CM Award in Value Addition of Livestock Produce'. Regarding the aforementioned awards, University received a number of applications from livestock farmers across the state. A committee of experts visited the livestock farmers who applied for the CM Awards and evaluated their farms and farming systems.
After the final decision, the university announced the names of winners in different categories. In the Cattle Farming category, S. Ranjit Singh Sohi s/o S. Sukhpal Singh, VPO Langiana Purana, Tehsil Baghapurana, District Moga Ludhiana will get the award. He has 235 cows and the daily milk production at his farm is 25 quintals. He had established a milking parlour and an ultra-modern shed. He has tagged all his animals and uses an automatic scraper for dairy waste management. One of his cows has a record of 60 liters milk production per day.
In the Poultry Farming category, Sh. Rishi Pal s/o Sh. Banarsi Dass of village Thuhi, Tehsil Nabha District Patiala will get the award. He started poultry farming in 2003. Now he has 6.5 lac birds and the daily production of eggs is 5.5 Lacs. He follows the recommendations of the University to manage his farm. He has established a cage system based shed and manufactures feed using his own feed mill. The birds are fed using semi-automatic feeders as well.
In the category of Value Addition of Livestock Produce, this year award is given jointly to S. Gurbachan Singh s/o S. Kehr Singh of village Burj Deva Singh, PO Harike, District Tarntaran and S Pushpinder Singh Sidhu s/o S Hakam Singh Sidhu of village Banwala Hanwanta, PO Jandwala, District Fazilka. Both the farmers after getting training from the university got registered with FSSAI of India. They are making Ghee, Paneer, Curd, Ice Cream and many other products at their farm. Both are also recognized by the Government of Punjab and Ministry of Food Processing Industries; Government of India.
These awards carry a plaque, shawl and citation along with cash