To enhance horticulture in Punjab and improve farmers’ income, Horticulture Minister Chetan Singh Jauramajra on Wednesday directed concerned department officials to promptly address the issues of the litchi growers of Gurdaspur and Pathankot. Jauramajra, during a meeting, asked the PSPCL about farmers’ demand for 10 hours of uninterrupted power supply at night in the peak season of April and May for litchi growers, directing the PSPCL chief engineer Satinder Sharma to prioritize fulfilling this demand. The Minister also instructed Secretary (Water Resources) Chander Gaind to ensure timely repair of canals and minors for ensuring uninterrupted canal water supply for litchi orchards during summer season. Punjab Agro general manager Ranbir Singh was also instructed to explore litchi export possibilities, ensuring marketing of litchi within the state and abroad, aiming to increase profits for growers. Likewise, the Minister asked the scientists from Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, to develop new litchi varieties and create specific packaging suitable for export.
In response to the farmers’ demand for installing solar systems in orchards, the Minister directed PEDA joint director Rajesh Bansal to take action and provide solar pumps for these orchards, emphasizing that based on the Horticulture Department's recommendation, a range of 500 to 1000 solar pumps should be allocated for the growers.
The Minister asked Horticulture director Shailender Kaur to ensure that recommended insecticides or fungicides are provided to the farmers through a special outlet at Litchi Estate. “I will hold a meeting with the Finance Minister in the next few days to provide additional funds to Litchi Estate,” said the Minister while asking the Director to hold a meeting with insurance companies to create an insurance scheme for litchi growers.
The officials of the Forest Department were also asked to prepare a plan for installing fencing wire around the litchi orchards. Besides, the Minister urged the litchi farmers to create clusters and work in unison, emphasizing that this approach would assist in cutting down the input cost of produce.
