Ludhiana honors livestock farmers at Pashu Palan Mela

Ludhiana: Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University honored livestock farmers at the Pashu Palan Mela, also known as the livestock fair. Six farmers received Chief Minister's Awards for their exceptional contributions in various farming sectors, such as fish, buffalo, goat, and pig farming. One awardee, Amteshwar Singh Gill, is a dentist who switched to fish farming. He runs a mechanized fishery in Fatehgarh Sahib, producing around 7 tonnes of fish each year. Gill focuses on popular fish species for local markets, emphasizing modern technology on his farm. Another winner, Parminderjit Singh from Kapurthala, combines fish and pig farming. His 4-acre farm yields 10 tonnes of fish annually by using innovative methods. The farmers received awards that included a shawl, a citation, and cash prizes. Dr. Ravinder Singh Grewal highlighted the university's efforts to enhance livestock farming through training and outreach programs. He noted the significance of recognizing innovative practices that boost productivity in the sector. Among other awardees, Gurlal Singh manages a herd of 60 buffaloes in Bathinda, producing 235 liters of milk daily. Baldev Singh Sandhu from Ludhiana runs a goat breeding farm with 200 goats, while Harinderpal Singh and Surinderpal Singh operate pig farms in Fatehgarh Sahib and Ferozepur, respectively. The awards ceremony was attended by university officials, dignitaries, and former MP Muhammad Sadiq. Cash prizes for the categories included ₹21,000 for buffalo farming, ₹11,000 for fish farming, and ₹5,100 each for pig and goat farming.