Chandigarh, Dec. 3, 2025: The Punjab government under Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has rolled out ₹59 lakh in assistance for livestock and dairy farmers in Hoshiarpur and Taragarh, marking a renewed push to modernize the sector and improve veterinary care. Officials said ₹17 lakh has been sanctioned for Rajpura and ₹42 lakh for Taragarh to upgrade animal hospitals and strengthen local dairy infrastructure.
The state has already distributed ₹3 crore to 204 dairy farmers for setting up 2 to 20‑animal units this year. “Farmers are responding with confidence because the government is standing with them,” an official from the Animal Husbandry Department said, adding that 9,150 unemployed youths have undergone dairy training to build self-employment.
Food and Civil Supplies Minister Lal Chand Kataruchak said the administration is prepared for the upcoming wheat procurement season, estimating contributions of 3.14 lakh metric tonnes from Hoshiarpur and over 5 lakh from Jalandhar. “We will procure every grain farmers bring. Any negligence will not be tolerated,” he said.
A ₹135 crore dairy project in Majha is also underway to expand production of sterilized milk, lassi and dahi. Authorities said upgraded facilities will increase capacity and help meet regional demand. “Punjab’s milk sector is moving into a new era,” a senior official noted.
Principal Secretary Rahul Bhandari said around 30,000 animals have been insured and ₹7 crore disbursed in FY 2024–25 to support farmers facing losses due to disease or death. He said the government is directing officials to reach out to youth and explain available schemes “so the benefits reach every household.”
Punjab is also establishing Mobile Veterinary Units with full central assistance. These units, accessible through a toll-free number, will offer diagnosis, vaccination and minor procedures at farmers’ doorstep.
Verka products have now entered e‑commerce platforms, supported by a new mascot, Veera, and a celebrity brand ambassador. New items such as rabri and kaju badam milk are being introduced to expand the brand’s reach.
Mann said investments worth more than ₹50,000 crore have come into Punjab in the last 18 months. “Punjab has complete communal harmony and a supportive industrial climate,” he said. A Netherlands‑based firm, De Heus, is investing ₹138 crore in a cattle feed plant in Rajpura.
Farmers in Hoshiarpur welcomed the aid. “This will be a boon for us,” a local dairy farmer said. Veterinary experts added that district‑level diagnostic labs will substantially cut testing costs for livestock owners.
With new markets opening in Delhi and NCR, officials said Punjab’s dairy cooperative is expanding nationwide. The government says the latest initiatives will raise incomes and help position Punjab as a leading dairy state.
