Punjab government today gave its nod to an agriculture diversification programme which aims to train nearly one lakh youths for self-employment in agri sector and allied activities.
Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal took the decision while presiding over a meeting with senior officers of state Horticulture and Agriculture department here, according to an official release.
Badal directed the state's Financial Commissioner Development (FCD) to work out the modalities for imparting training to the youth for enabling them to take up agriculture and allied activities like dairy farming and fisheries.
He asked the FCD to look into the ways and means for establishing the state board for promotion and development of bee-keeping in a mission mode, appointing a senior officer not below the rank of Joint or Additional Director of the Horticulture department as its mission director.
The Chief Minister also directed the FCD to seek vital inputs from the National Bee Board for the constitution of state board in this regard.
It was informed in the meeting that there were nearly 33,000 bee-keepers in the state.
Badal directed the officials to tie up with the Markfed- Asia's largest Cooperative network to provide assured marketing facilities to the bee-keepers under its premium brand 'Sohna'.
