Speaking here after releasing the brochure of the 8th National Livestock Championship & Expo 2016 being held from January 8 to 12, 2016 at Muktsar Sahib, Badal said Punjab being an agrarian state, the lucrative business of cattle rearing has been promoted at a large scale to encourage youth to adopt this business as an alternative profession.
This championship was being organised for last seven years with an aim to bring awareness among the farmers to improve livestock breed of various cattle heads as viable alternatives for diversification of agriculture, the CM said.
He said in order to give a further push to the agriculture sector besides motivating the peasantry to adopt allied farming the state government has already decided to double the prize money for this championship this year to the tune of Rs 2.5 crore from Rs 1.25 crore last year.
Stressing the need to adopt allied sectors in farming, the Badal said in the present scenario mere dependence on agriculture was not profitable rather farmers should adopt allied farming in terms of dairy, piggery, goatary to enhance their income substantially.
(REOPENS DES18)
Badal said that while SAD-BJP alliance had been
providing free power to farmers, Amrinder had during his rule (2002-07) discontinued it thereby putting enormous burden on farmers."
"The state Congress Chief was also part and parcel of the conspiracy to rob waters of state by constructing Satluj Yamuna Link canal. Also, during his (Amarinder's) tenure as Chief Minister Captain (Amarinder) never initiated any scheme for the welfare of poor strata of society," Badal alleged.
He said that this was a pro-people exercise being conducted thoroughly in a transparent manner. "However, envious of development and welfare of people, the Congress leaders have always opposed it," he said.