Up for a simpler Agricultural Policy

Sh. Ajay Vir Jakhar, Chairman, Punjab State Farmer's Commission visited Guru Angad Dev Veterinary & Animal Sciences University (GADVASU), Ludhiana. A meeting was held with Dr. Amarjit Singh Nanda, Vice-Chancellor, Deans, Directors, HoD's and Teachers of the Varsity. The agenda of the meeting was to discuss main points to develop a new Agriculture Policy for the State of Punjab. The meeting focused mainly on Livestock, Poultry and Fisheries related policy to be included in the new Agri. policy. It is pertinent to mention that to improve the condition of the farming community, Punjab Govt. is working aggressively to formalize a new Agriculture Policy. In this context Sh. Jakhar is meeting different Stake holders of Agriculture, Livestock, farming community and Industry people. Dr. Balwinder Singh Sidhu, Commissioner, Agriculture, Punjab is also attended the meeting.

Sh. Jakhar said that after developing a draft of this new policy we would present it in Punjab Assembly for open deliberation and views. We will invite opinions with an open call from different quarters which may be beneficial for policy, even a small farmer may present his ideas. He said that policy is mainly related with livelihood of masses so it will be in simple and understandable language document. After developing the policy, Govt. will honour the same in right spirit and will take care all the relevant needs including budget aspect also. Dr. Amarjit Singh Nanda, Vice-Chancellor emphasized the importance of agriculture policy which will help the farmers for making livestock sustainable and profitable. He said that it will bring livestock security and make it a viable option for the unemployed youth of the state as well as attract youth into livestock sector.

Dr. Simrat Sagar Singh, Dean, Postgraduate Studies, briefed about the mandate of university. Dr. JPS Gill, Director of Research, presented an outlook of livestock professions. He said that livestock is becoming more attractive amongst the farmers as dairy, fisheries, poultry, piggery, goatry are more lucrative in contrast to present agriculture. He shared different constraints of the livestock field. Dr. Harish Kumar Verma, Director of Extension Education informed about the problems in the dissemination of extension services. He said that extension facilities are backbone of every profession so we should strengthen these services on priority basis, even the unreached farmers by adopting modern ICT tools as well as conventional methods.