Punjab Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal has given the go ahead for setting up of two cattle feed processing plants in the state.
Markfed and Milkfed will be responsible for running these plants. Mr Badal made this announcement while addressing chief agriculture officers of Punjab.
Announcing a slew of measures aimed at boosting farm production, Mr Badal called upon officials to motivate farmers to take to farming alternate, less water intensive and remunerative crops through holding camps and seminars for farmers across the state.
Chief Minister also called for involving cooperatives in the diffusion of technology among farmers. Bee keeping should be developed adequately and scientifically in a big way in the state and the whole business of honey could be handled by Markfed, he noted.
In yet another programme Badal asked the NABARD to provide finance to the allied farming sector on the interest at par with agriculture to give further impetus to the much needed agriculture diversification program in the state.
Badal also demanded to immediately slash the rate of interest on the NABARD’s refinance from 4.5% to 2.5% to boost the rural economy.