The Punjab Government on Saturday formed an inter-State panel in order to evaluate the pest attack and to take needful measures in the State.
Punjab Chief Secretary Sarvesh Kaushal reviewed the arrangements and preparations to contain the whitefly attack this season.
Taking serious note of detection of whitefly in Abohar, Fazilka areas, Chief Secretary asked Director Agriculture, VC PAU and experts of universities to launch a concerted drive in these specific areas so that the spread of whitefly, if any, could be averted.
It was also decided in the meeting that launch of persuasion campaign amongst farmers to sow barrier crops namely Maize, Jwar and Bajra to contain pest attack was need of the hour.
The Chief Secretary finalised ten members in inter-State panel comprising members from neighbouring States Haryana and Rajasthan.
Giving information about the constituted panel, Kaushal said they had formed consultative and monitoring committee to hold joint fortnightly discussions, field visits, research work, explore and share techniques to contain pest attack besides making farmers aware about the barrier crops to save cotton from whitefly attack.
He said they will remain fully alert and in case of any information regarding pest attack, they would ensure field visit to take stock of situation. He said that the officers would visit the spot along with initiating immediate solution to contain pest attack.
Asking Vice-Chancellor PAU and Director Agriculture those interests of farmers should be protected at all costs, the Chief Secretary said that their team should visit in the field to know the actual situation. He said that these teams would also take randomly samples of pesticides and insecticides being used by farmers so that their interests could be protected.
He also directed agriculture officers to adopt zero tolerance against pest attack and spread of whitefly. Kaushal also deputed Deputy Commissioners of Bathinda Dr Basant Garg, Mansa Varinder Sharma, Fazilka Isha Kalia and Sri Muktsar Sahib Additional Deputy Commissioner KPS Mahi to keep a close tab on the situation.
He said that they would hold regular meetings to know the ground situation whereas agriculture officers would keep their awareness camp drive continue to educate farmers about barrier crops.
Experts from Haryana and Rajasthan also laid the emphasise on barrier crops including Maize, Bajra and Jwar on periphery of fields where cotton had been sowed. They said that this exercise would definitely prove a boon for farmers to keep the whitefly away from their fields.
The Chief Secretary also asked the officers of Agriculture Department to remain vigilant during ongoing season and any kind of lapse would not be tolerated. He said that officers with lapses under their jurisdiction would have to face the music.