Punjab Government has finalised the proposals for the much-needed agriculture diversification programme after marathon discussions with various stakeholders on Monday.
The finalised proposals are expected to be submitted to the Union Agriculture Ministry next week with an objective to shift major chunk of cultivable land from paddy to crops like maize, sugarcane, oilseeds, soyabean, pulses besides fruits and vegetables under crop diversity program across the state.
“Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal held a series of meetings today with the progressive farmers, researchers, and senior officers of various departments involved in this grand mission forthe promotion of crop diversification through boosting allied agricultural activities in the State,” a spokesperson of the Chief Minister’s office said.
During the day-long brainstorming session, Badal called upon the farmers to shift from paddy cultivation to other alternative crops to save rapidly depleting groundwater.
He added, for the same, the State Government was finalising a comprehensive proposal for onward submission to the Centre demanding subsidy of 50 percent on all agriculture inputs like seeds, pesticides and insecticides; besides ensuring an effective infrastructural support in terms of machinery with 50 per cent subsidy and a proper marketing network for the produce of the farmers.
In addition, maize and fruit processing units must also be established with Centre’s support.
Badal also approved Rs198 crore proposal for setting up Center of Excellence under crop diversification program to carry out research work by Punjab Agricultural University in a phased manner during a period of next five years.
Chief Minister also gave approval to the proposal for establishing one lichi estate at Pathankot and one Pear estate at Amritsar at a cost of Rs3.8 crore each besides establishing sub-estate for lichi at Gurdaspur.
Meanwhile, Food and Civil Supplies Minister Adaish Partap Singh Kairon raised the issue of defective weighing scales being used by private owners and causing a huge loss to the farmers and reiterated that the administration must take suitable action against them on priority.
Regarding the cultivation of soyabean, Punjab Farmers’ Commission’s chairman Dr GS Kalkat opined that the State agriculture department must develop suitable high yielding varieties of soyabean according to the climatic conditions of the State.