Punjab Government will give cash prizes to farmers adopting innovative farm practices under the 'Recognition and Awards to Persons Engaged in Agriculture and Allied Sectors' scheme.
Farmers will be given cash prize of Rs 3 lakh, Rs 2 lakh and Rs 1 lakh respectively from each category on the basis of decision by a six-member committee headed by Chairman Punjab State Farmer's Commission G S Kalkat, said.
The selection committee has been mandated to give its recommendations by April every year and a function to honour these farmers who had contributed for developing innovative farm practices, thereby shifting from traditional agriculture for promotion of farm diversification.
Apart from this, innovative farmers associated with any sort of the best farm practices/technologies such as post-harvest management and use of agriculture residue (paddy straw), intelligent irrigation system and organic farming would also be honoured under the category of 'Innovative farming'
Farmers who had successfully excelled in the production of kinnow, guava, lichhi, pear, strawberry, potato, citrus species, protected cultivation, mushroom, basmati, sugarcane, maize, pulses, soya bean, cotton, oil seeds, fruits and vegetables, besides bee-keeping, dairy farming, fishery, goatry, poultry and piggery would be honoured.
To honour the progressive dairy farmers in a befitting manner, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal also decided to have three different categories of buffalos, cows and indigenous (desi) cows in dairy farming sector. Apart from this, innovative farmers associated with any sort of the best farm practices/technologies such as Post-harvest Management, Management and Use of Agriculture Residue (Paddy Straw), intelligent Irrigation System and Organic Farming would also be honoured under an exclusive category of ‘Innovative farming’.
latest equipment for cultivators
To ensure disease free high yield of fruits and vegetables, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal approved to procure the latest requisite infrastructure and equipments for the cultivators in the State.
This decision was taken by Badal following the suggestions of Chairman Punjab State Farmers’ Commission Dr. GS Kalkat and Member Governing Board of Punjab Agriculture University, ludhiana Kulwant Singh.
A spokesperson of the Chief Minister’s Office said that it was decided to import 50 Electrostatic Knapsack Spray Pumps (EKSP) to effectively combat the problem of Under Surface Pest as the conventional spray pumps were not at all effective in such situation.
The experts recommended EKSPs for other crops after their huge success in the case of citrus estate. They also suggested establishing pre-cooling units and cold stores in citrus estates so that the farmers could store their crops and fruits to earn more profits and also pleaded to have separate vegetables sections also in cold stores.
The Chief Minister directed the Additional Chief Secretary Development to initiate process for the procurement of the requisite equipment expeditiously to provide better facilities to the fruit and vegetable cultivators.
To further improve the prospects of citrus estates in Punjab, they suggested initiating the production of solubilising bacteria by setting up this facility at Citrus Estate, Hoshiarpur.
It was also brought in the notice of the Chief Minister that Government undertakings only swung into action at the time of glut of fruits and vegetables in the market. To cope up with such situation efficiently, they emphasized the need to go for meticulous planning well in advance. They apprised the Chief Minister that adequate funds should be made available besides undertaking thorough arrangements for the processing and marketing for the fruits and vegetables especially in wake of vagaries of weather.