The Jiangsu province of China has agreed to initiate ‘Twin Province’ project with Punjab for promoting fresh water fisheries in the State as a part of Government’s crop diversification programme.
The decision was taken after Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, who called on Governor of Jiangsu province li Xueyong at the Government Provincial Hall, recalled the age-old relations between India and China in every field, a statement released here said.
Badal, the statement said, apprised the Governor that Punjab has been a very progressive State where there is a lot of scope of fish farming as the land use is almost like Jiangsu province.
Throwing light on State Government’s ambitious crop diversification programme, Badal said the Government wants to develop fresh water fisheries to bail out its farmers from the prevailing agrarian crisis.
Badal apprised Xueyong that currently, the production of fish in Punjab is six tonnes per hectare whereas the State Government aspires to double this production in the coming three years.
Soliciting the help of the Government of Jiangsu province for promoting fish farming through ‘Twin Province’ project, Badal said the present production from fish reservoirs is 100-150 kilograms per hectare which was very low but could be enhanced by four folds, with the expertise from Jiangsu province.
He urged Xueyong to send their experts to Punjab so as to update Punjabi farmers about their latest technology.
Xueyong assured fulsome support and cooperation to Punjab in every way. The Governor said he is confident that under the able leadership of Badal, there were huge possibilities ahead for both the States.