Discount would be given on interest rate for setting up units of milk, milk products, meat, cattle feed and silage

The Punjab Government has been implementing various schemes from time to time to bring out the farmers of the state from the traditional agricultural crop cycle and increase the income of the farmers by developing allied occupations in the state. In a press statement issued here today, the Minister for Animal Husbandry, Fisheries, Dairy Development and Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa said that the government has introduced a new scheme for new entrepreneurs, companies and farmer producer organizations to enhance the production, quality, maintenance and better marketing of milk products, meat and cattle feed. Under this scheme 3% discount would be given on interest rate for setting up units of milk / milk products, meat, cattle feed and silage units. He said that this scheme would continue for three years for which Rs 15 crore has been reserved by GoI for giving 3 percent subsidy on interest rate for setting units.

The Animal Husbandry Minister said that the farmers were getting good yields by adopting allied occupations but they need more product development, better maintenance and quality marketing so that quality products can be provided to the consumers. He said that with the implementation of this scheme new industries would come up in the state, the youth would get employment and the consumers would get quality products produced in the state itself.

He also said that due to the change in the eating habits of the new generation, the demand for various types of cheese, yoghurt, condensed milk, ice cream and health enhancing products is increasing instead of pure ghee and powder making factories. Similarly the demand of a growing population can be met by making different meat products from meat.

The Minister has directed the officers of the department to launch an awareness campaign about the scheme through various modes of media and to appoint nodal officers to provide information and other facilities to the new entrepreneurs.

Mr. Inderjit Singh, Director Dairy Development, Punjab said that only 30% of milk in Punjab is procured from organized sector factories. The rest of the milk is purchased by dairies, urban creameries, confectioners, restaurants and catering caterers. The consumers are nowadays opting for Ultra Heat Treated Milk (UHT), long-kept milk from trusted companies, rather than buying milk on a daily basis, but apart from Milkfed, there is no other unit in Punjab that produces and sells this milk. Therefore, there is a golden opportunity to benefit from this scheme for making various milk and other products.

He appealed to the new and old entrepreneurs of Punjab to contact the head office of the department, Deputy Director Offices and head office helpline 0172-5027285 to avail the benefits of this scheme.