Punjab to promote indigenous breed of animals: Minister

The Punjab government would promote indigenous breeds like Sahiwal and Gir cows, Murrah and Nili Ravi buffalos, Beetal goats and Kadaknath chicken, a minister said here today.

Balbir Singh Sidhu, Minister for Animal Husbandry, Dairy Development and Fisheries, was chairing a meeting with the representatives of farmers help society, Dhira Patra.

The minister said global warming has rendered catastrophic effects on agriculture as the cultivable land under green fodder has been decreasing at an alarming pace and there is acute shortage of quality milk, while the demand for meat is rising fast.

He said due to the increase in demand of meat, the Punjab government has decided to promote the indigenous breeds of animals instead of foreign breeds.

Besides providing subsidy to set up dairy farms of indigenous breeds of cows and buffalos, poultry units of indigenous breeds of chicken like Kadaknath would be set up at the backyards of the farms, he said.

Units to domesticate Beetal breed of goats would also be set up for landless farmers, he said.

The government will also coordinate with farmers of countries like Brazil and Australia to improve the breed of indigenous milch animals, he said.