2.86 Lakh free FMD and 1.06 lakh free Lumpy Skin vaccines administered to protect animals from diseases: Harmeet Singh Sandhu

Tarn Taran(The Uttam Hindu): Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) candidate Harmeet Singh Sandhu said that under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, the Punjab government is taking historic steps to make agriculture profitable and to promote allied farming sectors. Criticizing the previous governments, he said that the Akali-BJP and Congress governments had always neglected the farmers and livestock of the border district Tarn Taran, but the AAP government is committed to improving their economic condition by implementing the right policies.

Sandhu lauded the efforts being made by the Animal Husbandry Department in the district, stating that due to the clear policies of the Mann government, farmers are now gaining significant benefits in dairy farming. He said that special emphasis is being laid on improving the breed of cows and buffaloes to increase milk production. He further stated that the government is providing a direct subsidy of ₹425 on each dose of sexed semen to livestock farmers, which is a major financial relief for them.

AAP candidate Harmeet Singh Sandhu, speaking about livestock health care, said that when the Lumpy Skin Disease wreaked havoc across Punjab, the AAP government acted on the ground to protect livestock farmers. Citing data, he said that in Tarn Taran district, 1.06 lakh doses of the Lumpy Skin Disease vaccine were administered completely free of cost to protect animals from diseases. Additionally, to protect animals from Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), a special campaign was conducted during the months of April and May, covering 100 percent of the livestock in the district, during which 2,86,135 doses of FMD vaccine were administered free of cost. He said that these free vaccinations have provided farmers relief worth lakhs of rupees.

Sandhu further said that the government’s focus is not limited to dairy farming alone but also on increasing farmers’ income through agricultural diversification. Therefore, the department is organizing free monthly training programs on goat rearing, pig rearing, and poultry farming for livestock farmers and unemployed youth so that they can start new allied ventures. He said that these figures clearly prove that the AAP government believes not in making hollow claims but in delivering real work on the ground.