Ludhiana 19 March 2025-Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University will confer Chief Minister Awards to four progressive livestock farmers of the state on 21^st March at Pashu Palan Mela being organized at Ludhiana.

Dr. Ravinder Singh Grewal, Director of Extension Education said that varsity is making all out efforts for the development of the livestock sector in the state by strengthening its extension programmers. To motivate various livestock farmers, the university organizes innovative competitions by assessing the extent and impact of adoption of these technologies in improving the productivity and profitability of different category livestock farming systems. In this response the university received several applications. A committee of experts including deans and directors visited the livestock farmers who participated in the competitions and evaluated the total farming system. After the final decision, the university announced the names of winners in different categories.

In the buffalo category S. Gurlal Singh, son of S. Harbans Singh, village, Kararwala, district, Bathinda will be awarded in the buffalo dairy farming category. Today, he has 60 buffaloes. Out of which 25 milking buffaloes are producing 235 liters of milk daily. He sells milk directly to consumers and also prepares paneer, khoya and ghee.

In the field of goat farming, S. Baldev Singh Sandhu, village, Manuke Sandhu, district, Ludhiana will be awarded. After completing his college education, he started goat farming in 2021. Currently, he has 200 animals. He has prepared his farm as a breeding farm. He has also formed a ‘Beetle Breeders Club’.

In the field of fish farming, this honor is being given to two farmers. The first farmer is S. Amiteshwar Singh Gill, son of S. Gurinder Singh Gill, District Moga. He is also a professional dentist. He has been doing fish farming for the last three years and the production capacity of his fish farm is 7 tons per year. The other farmer is S. Parminderjit Singh, son of S. Didar Singh, a resident of District Kapurthala. He has been doing fish farming business with modern techniques for the last three years. He has combined fish pond and pig farming with integrated farming system. His fish farm is spread over an area of 4 acres in which 10 tons of fish are being produced annually.

In the category of Pig farming this honor is also being given to two farmers. The first farmer is S. Harinderpal Singh, son of S. Baldev Singh, from District Fatehgarh Sahib. He started this profession in 2016. At present, he has a total of 1200 animals including 120 sows. For the last three years, 500-700 pigs are being sold every year from their farm. The other farmer is Mr. Surinderpal Singh, son of Mr. Suba Singh, from village, Wazidpur, district Ferozepur. He also started pig farming in 2016. Around 400 pigs are also sold every year on his farm. He strictly follows scientific methods and biosecurity rules for the health care of the pigs.

Dr. Grewal informed that these awards carry plaque, shawl, and citation along with cash.