The Punjab Government on Tuesday claimed that the State peasantry would get eight hours of uninterrupted power supply from June 15 in the ensuing paddy sowing season.
Agriculture Minister Tota Singh, while reviewing the prior arrangements for sowing of crops in Kharif season, said that Punjab has taken all necessary arrangements to ensure uninterrupted eight hours power supply to peasantry.
“This system of providing uninterrupted power will become fully operational from June 15…Instructions in this regard have been issued to the Power Corporation,” he said.
Singh said that if there would be any change in the supply of power schedule, the village sarpanches, panches and agriculture officers of various districts will inform the farmers well in time.
Issuing strict directions to all Chief Agriculture Officers, District Agriculture Officers and other senior officers concerned of the department, Singh instructed them to ensure completion of all arrangements before commencement of Kharif season.
“There are more than 70 per cent of urea and 60 per cent of DAP available in the State,” he said while asking the officers that there should be “no scarcity of these fertilizers at any cost”.
He also instructed the officers to ensure the fair distribution of fertilizers besides launching statewide campaign to educate farmers about the reasonable use of fertilizers.
Giving a call to State farmers to get the soils of their fields tested from the government labs in their respective areas, Singh said that the farmers should be aware about the deficiency of essential ingredients in fields.
“Farmers should opt for certified seeds as the state has ample availability of seeds including paddy, maize, cotton etc,” he said.
The Minister also emphasized the need to focus on Crop Diversification Program-Farm Mechanisation and Value Addition Component Scheme to witness diversification on large scale.
“Under this prestigious scheme, 21,576 agri-machines worth Rs38.10 crores have been distributed amongst farmers in the State.
He also asked the officers present in the meeting to organise farmers’ awareness and training camps to make them aware and educate about the Government policies and programmes.