Punjab Government has constituted a development board to encourage farmers to grow maize. An official said this Board has been constituted under the Chairmanship of Chief Minister, Punjab, and the Agriculture Minister as Vice Chairman besides 12 members. The Board had been mandated to examine and review the status of cultivation of Maize crop in the State and to suggest measures for the development, to coordinate the activities the research and development for improving their productivity and production and upgrade their quality through propagation of appropriate crop production technology. This board had been asked to device their own procedures to regulate their functioning.
A spokesman said that focus of Punjab Government is to motivate the farmers to opt Maize cultivation as an alternative to Paddy. He said that in view of the depleting water table and forecast of deficit rainfall during this year the Government is encouraging farmers to bring more area under maize cultivation as the soil in Punjab is equally conductive and suitable for its cultivation and good production.
“Cultivation of this crop is cost - effective and so quite remunerative. This crop is also easily marketable,” the official said, adding maize prices have increased in the past few years as demand has been rising. He said that maize is a unique crop as it can be used as food, fodder and fuel as well. Punjab Agriculture University ludhiana has developed numerous high yielding verities of maize which should a bid to promote the cultivation of Maize which should be grown to earn good profit.