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Punjab eyes Borlaug Institute for S Asia
Jangveer Singh
Tribune News Service

According to sources, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has conveyed to his team that the state is also ready to give land for residential quarters for the institute in Ludhiana, besides extending various other facilities.

Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal is expected to make an inspirational pitch by listing the points in the state’s favour. This includes the fact that the land being offered is in a highly productive zone with wheat and paddy yields of 11 tonne per hectare, which are comparable with the best areas in the world per unit of time. The site is also near Ludhiana and two-hours drive from international airports of Amritsar and Chandigarh.

Agriculture Director Dr Balwinder Singh Sidhu said the state would also highlight the synergy that could be created with the development of the institute in close proximity to PAU. He said other points in Punjab’s favour included the fact that the laboratory-to-field time could be minimised as the state farmer was most receptive to new technology.

Punjab is also taking the establishment of the institute as an urgent need for the state due to the depleting water table and the need to source high-yielding maize seeds for its farmers. The proposed institute, which will be a research centre, will focus on the development of new maize and wheat varieties.

After visiting Ladhowal, would also tour Haryana, Chhattisgarh and Bihar. Sources said the race was likely to be between Punjab and Chhattisgarh. While Punjab may have the best offer in terms of location of the institute, Chhattisgarh, which wants the institute to be sited at Jabalpur, is banking on ideal weather conditions for maize development.

Norman Ernest Borlaug