Punjab is all set to host the first ever Progressive Punjab Agriculture Summit (PPAS) here at Baba Banda Singh Bahadur War Memorial, Chappar Chirri from February 16-19.
Talking to reporters here, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal said that it would be a mega technology event to facilitate the transformation of agriculture for the benefit of farmers, which would be attended by all stakeholders ranging from farmers to food processors. The ultimate goal of the summit was to emerge consensus for evolving a viable National Agriculture Policy in the interests of farmers.
He said nearly 50,000 farmers from Punjab and 5,000 farmers from other States across the country would participate in the summit. Farmers from West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Assam, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, J&K have already confirmed their participation. In a bid to encourage farmers from Punjab and other States, the Chief Minister said that they had decided to honour three farmers from each district of Punjab and three farmers from each State of the country with a cash award of Rs 51,000 and memento in recognition for their outstanding contribution in the field of agriculture and allied farming. likewise, 50 experts and scientists in the field of agriculture and animal husbandry would also be honoured for their exemplary services in the field of research & development of agriculture.
An exhibition displaying latest farm machinery, agriculture equipments and implements would be organised over an area of 35 acres and nearly 400 stalls displaying live demo of drip irrigation, net houses, live stock, machinery, inputs would be put up. Apart from this, 11 technical sessions on various aspects of agriculture and allied farming including dairy, fishery, bee-keeping, piggery, goatery etc would be organised over an area of 10 acres in four hangers. Experts, agri scientists and economists from 10 countries viz., Canada, Pakistan, UK, Denmark, Netherlands, Australia, USA, Israel, Italy, New Zealand would attend the summit besides heads and representatives of 13 national institutions.
Badal said several leading industrial houses in agri business like Aditya Birla Group, Tata Chemicals, Mahindra & Mahindra Agri Business, Godrej Agrovet, Dabur India ltd, ITC, Nestlé, Coca Cola, PepsiCo India and DSCl (Shriram Fertilizers & Chemicals) would also actively take participate in the summit by putting up their stalls at the exhibition.