Amidst massive protests by the state sugarcane farmers, Punjab Cabinet on Monday decided to hike the state agreed price (SAP) of sugarcane by Rs 10 per quintal in the State — a move estimated to put an additional burden of Rs 20 crore on already empty State coffers.
In another farmers-friendly move, the Cabinet has also approved a Bill in the ongoing winter session of the state Assembly to set up a five-member commission for framing a policy to empower and grant legal rights to the farmers.
With the hike, the sugarcane SAP has been fixed at Rs 310 against Rs 300 for early variety, Rs 300 against Rs 290 for mid variety, and Rs 295 against Rs 285 per quintal for late variety.
The hike, in line with the increase given by Uttar Pradesh and Haryana governments, has been made despite the fiscal crisis in the state, said an official spokesperson, adding, “Coupled with farm loan waiver, it would go a long way in alleviating the woes of the state's farmers”.
A total quantity of 675 lakh quintal of sugarcane was expected to arrive in 16 sugar mills, including nine in cooperative and seven in private sector, during the current crushing season.
The cabinet decision followed detailed parleys between the Cabinet sub-committee headed by Finance Minister Manpreet Badal and the representatives of various Sugarcane Grower Unions and Associations from across the state, who met on Monday morning at Kisan Bhawan.
The Cabinet also decided to introduce The Punjab State Farmers and Farm Workers Commission-2017 Bill in Vidhan Sabha session to set up a panel to be headed by a nominated chairperson who will hold the rank of a Cabinet minister. The proposed Commission would be tasked with planning agriculture policies at district and block level, and would have the powers to frame agriculture policies and other related matters referred to by the state government.
The government will have powers for making reference to the Commission on the subjects as may be decided and also for framing the rules for the commission. The Commission will have corpus fund of Rs 25 crore initially and Rs five crore for the next five years as grant to be given by the state government.
It would be required to submit its report, which will be tabled in Punjab Vidhan Sabha.
The Commission’s chairperson will be a person appointed by the state government, who is a practicing or progressive farmer with at least a graduate degree, or an eminent agriculture scientist, and has sufficient exposure regarding current domestic and international agricultural scenario.
Its member-secretary will be in the rank of the secretary to government and his salary and allowances and other conditions of appointment will be fixed by the government.
The Commission will also have an advisory council consisting of more than 15 members, out of which seven will be progressive farmers and one each from the food processors, agri-machinery manufacturers and agri-entrepreneurs, academics and agriculture scientists, among others. They will hold the position for three years. The Commission would be mandated to provide for rights and welfare of those dependent on agriculture. It will also collect data, information, analyze , inquire, consult studies and suggest measures for improving the status of agriculture and allied sectors, rural infrastructure, besides promoting the off-farm job creation in rural areas.
BIll ON AMRITSAR WAllED CITY AMENDMENT, lAND IMPROVEMENT SCHEMES APPROVED
The Cabinet has also okayed the Amritsar Walled City (Recognition of Usage) Ordinance 2017 to be tabled before the Vidhan Sabha for enactment. “The Ordinance, promulgated by the Punjab Governor, provides for the applicants to submit details of violations in the walled city of Amritsar for one-time settlement by January 31, 2018. Under the proposed legislation, Sections 3 (2) and 5 of Amritsar Walled City (Recognition of Usage) Act, 2016, will be suitably amended,” said the spokesperson of the Chief Minister's Office.
In another decision, the Cabinet also gave concurrence to introduce draft Bill on the Punjab land Improvement Schemes Act (Amendment) Bill, 2017, for insertion of new Section 14-A for “laying of underground pipes of repair, renovation of existing underground pipelines through any other land holdings" in Chapter-III, Punjab Act No 23 of 1963, in the current Punjab Vidhan Sabha session for enactment.
The amended Act shall grant legal right to the Soil and Water Conservation Department and the farmers to lay underground irrigation pipelines in the land of other land holders at a depth of three feet beneath the surface of land, as per demarcated line on payment of compensation arising out of crop damage or damage to any structure as per prevailing market rates.
BIll TO AMEND MRSPTU ACT
The Cabinet also gave its nod to introduce a Bill in the Vidhan Sabha to amend Sections-5 and 20 of the Maharaja Ranjit Singh Punjab Technical University (MRSPTU) Act to give MRSPTU colleges a one-time choice to choose their affiliation.
The proposed amendments are in line with the High Court orders and would help in resolving the court cases filed in the Supreme Court.
Following the amendment, the colleges which come under MRSPTU’s territorial jurisdiction would be able to choose between MRSPTU and IK Gujral PTU, as per their discretion. However, the new colleges to be set up in future would be bound for affiliation as per territorial jurisdiction of MRSPTU, Bathinda, and IK Gujral Punjab Technical University, Jalandhar.
BIll TO ESTABlISH PUNJAB STATE COUNCIl FOR AGRICUlTURAl EDUCATION OKAYED
The Cabinet has also decided to bring in a draft ‘Punjab State Council for Agricultural Education Act-2017’ Bill in the Vidhan Sabha session for the establishment of Punjab State Council for Agricultural Education.
The Council will promote and coordinate agricultural education in various colleges and institutes in the state, and ensure sustained quality assurance in agricultural education. It will develop guidelines and regulate the higher agricultural education through grant of recognition to colleges, institutions or departments that meet the norms and standards prescribed to run educational degree programmes in agriculture.
CABINET REVIEWS PROGRESS OF PADDY PROCUREMENT
Reviewing the progress of paddy procurement in the state in the current season, which began on October 1 and will end on December 15, the state Cabinet has expressed satisfaction over the entire process. A detailed presentation was made to apprise the Council of Ministers about the progress of ongoing paddy procurement in which it was informed that as of November 26, 2017, total 174 lakh MT paddy had been procured by the five state procurement agencies
PUNGRAIN, MARKFED, PUNSUP, PSWC, PAFC and Centre’s Food Corporation of India (FCI).
The Centre has fixed Rs 1,550 for common variety and Rs 1,590 for 'A' grade paddy per quintal as minimum support price during Kharif Marketing Season 2017-18.
With the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) releasing Cash Credit limit amounting to Rs 33,800.22 crore for procurement, the state government had paid Rs 27,409 crores to farmers and arhtiyas till November 26 by the state agencies.