M A I N   N E W S

MSP for maize, mustard fixed
Tribune News Service

Patiala, October 15
Punjab Agriculture Minister Rajinder Kaur Bhattal today announced support price for rabi crops of barley, maize and mustard. She said 12,000 acres of paddy and other crops were destroyed by recent hailstorm.

Announcing support prices of Rs 500 per quintal for barley as well as maize and Rs 1250 for mustard, she said she would put up a report on the damage to crops due to hailstorm to Punjab Cabinet meeting tomorrow and also take up the case of compensation with the Union Agriculture Minister with whom she is expected to have a meeting tomorrow evening or day after in Delhi.

Mrs Bhattal, who was talking to newsmen at the Circuit House here after visiting hailstorm-affected areas, said the government had tied up with the Punjab Agri Export Corporation under which 1,000 acres had been earmarked for sowing barley in Patiala, Sangrur and Mansa districts, 7000 acres for maize and 20,000 acres for mustard all over the State in the coming winter. She said farmers would be provided seed for all three crops and assured of a support price in advance.

The Minister said Agri Zones were also being created in the State. She said besides this the government had identified 14 projects which involved Fisheries, Forestry and Animal Husbandry Departments also besides the Agriculture Department. She said NRIs had been invited to set up projects. The government has helped them signing memorandum of understanding with a private bank.

On details of damage to crops by the recent hailstorm, Mrs Bhattal said 7,000 acres of crop had been damaged in Ropar district, 3,500 acres in Fatehgarh Sahib district, 500 acres in Nawanshahr, 700 acres in Patiala and 500 acres in Hoshiarpur. She said while major damage had been done to paddy crop, even sugarcane crop had been affected by the hailstorm. She said she would make a report on this at the meeting of the State Cabinet tomorrow adding she would also take up compensation to the farmers with Union Minister Ajit Singh in Delhi.

Mrs Bhattal also announced that the government was planning to give a boost to the Focal Points established by previous Akali government in the State. She said an attempt would be made to make these projects viable by setting up mini bazars there or using these for the sale of heavy farm equipment. She said the government was also thinking of setting up auditoriums in the Focal Points which would have video-conferencing facilities to enable government officials to talk to farmers direct.

She also announced that 140 villages had been selected in the State for providing complete modern facilities. These villages’ streets would be made pucca, biogas plants established and toilets established for the weaker sections. She said the villagers would also have to contribute to the project adding it would be extended to other villages if the pilot project succeeded.

Congressmen of Patiala stayed away from Mrs Rajinder Kaur Bhattal’s meeting when she visited Patiala today with no Congressman except former Punsup Chairman Brij Lal Goel, being with her during her stay at the Circuit House. Much after the Press conference was over Mrs Bhattal was joined at the Circuit House by former Minister and Amarinder critic Brahm Mohindra.