In a bid to promote maize and cotton cultivation as alternate crops besides plantation of litchi fruit in a big way under the State’s ambitious agriculture diversification program, Punjab Government has constituted three development boards for motivating the farmers to grow these crops and fruit.
Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has already given his nod to set up these boards under his chairmanship with Agriculture Minister as vice-chairman besides 12 members of Maize Development Board, 11 members of Cotton Development Board and eight members of litchi Development Board, stated a spokesperson of the Chief Minister’s Office.
Maize and Cotton Development Boards would have 10 progressive farmers and three representatives of processing industry each in the state to be nominated by the Financial Commissioner Development (FCD) as members for a term of three years. In case of litchi Development Board, 10 progressive litchi growers would be nominated as members for same term.The board may invite any eminent agriculture scientist and outstanding Maize consumer or processor, outstanding entrepreneur associated with Cotton processing or outstanding entrepreneur associated with Food Processing as special invitees to the meetings.
Maize and Cotton Development Boards would meet at least once in six months but litchi Board would meet once in three months.Nine and seven members would be quorum for any meeting of the Maize, Cotton and litchi Board respectively. These board members would not be entitled to receive any remuneration for the performance of their duty except such daily and travelling allowance as may be prescribed.
These Boards had been mandated to examine and review the status of cultivation of Cotton, Maize crops and litchi fruit in the State. Besides, they have been asked to suggest measures for their development, to coordinate the activities of research and development for improving their productivity and production and upgrade their quality through propagation of appropriate crop production technology.
In addition, these have been mandated to evaluate the existing storage and processing practices and suggest measures for improving their processing and up-gradation of processing industry, along with acting as a professional platform amongst the Maize, Cotton or litchi growers, industry and State Government for interaction regarding their development.
Moreover, they have been authorised for the creation of brand through organisation and participation in national and international exhibitions in case of litchi and resolution of issue, if any; and to arrange studies and research to help plan, evaluate and suggest medium and long term strategies for development of Maize, Cotton besides litchi in view of World Trade Organization (WTO) and its Agreement on Agriculture (AoA). All these Boards had been asked to device their own xprocedures to regulate their functioning.
Maize Development Board Members:
Food and Civil Supplies Minister, Chief Parliamentary Secretary (CPS) Agriculture, Financial Commissioner Development (FCD), Punjab State Farmers’ Commission (PSFC) chairman, Vice-chancellor of Punjab Agriculture University (PAU) ludhiana, Food and Civil Supplies secretary, Punjab Mandi Board (PMB) secretary, Markfed managing director (MD), Punjab Agro Industries Corporation (PAIC) MD, Agriculture commissioner, Dairy Development director Convener: Agriculture director
Cotton Development Board Members:
Industries and Commerce Minister, Chief Parliamentary Secretary (CPS) Agriculture, FCD, PSFC chairman, PAU VC, Industries and Commerce secretary, Markfed MD, Agriculture Commissioner, Bathinda Cotton Corporation of India general manager, Agriculture director Convener: Punjab Mandi Board secretary
litchi Development Board Members:
CPS Agriculture, FCD, PSFC chairman, PAU VC, Markfed MD, Punjab Agro Industries Corporation MD, Agriculture commissioner Convener: Horticulture director