Ludhiana, April 16
To reduce pressure on the natural resources, the farmers will have to listen to the experts’ advice on cultivating the paddy nursery only after May 15. This was a warning to the state farmers that came from the Transport Minister, Dr Tej Parkash Singh when he was speaking at a farmers training camp organised by the district Agriculture Department here today.
Urging the farmers to follow the suggestion of cultivating the recommended varieties, Dr Tej Parkash Singh said that the time was still ripe for the farmers to save the underground water, otherwise the state agriculture would be doomed. Warning the farmers of a stiff competition ahead due to the international market, the minister said that they would have to practically think about the precision farming with high profits. He also emphasised on improving the quality of the produce stating that they would have to produce the high quality yield with a minimum cost of production.
The minister also said that the government was putting in all efforts to procure all the produce coming to the mandis, adding that the officials had been told to make the payments of wheat within 24 hours of procurement. Assuring the farmers that the government would make good quality fertiliser available in the paddy season, he said that the supply of improved variety seeds would be ensured.
The Deputy Commissioner Mr Anurag Aggarwal said that Ludhiana had made its name figure not only among the top producers in India but on the world map of agriculture. He said that a committee constituted by the Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, and headed by a noted economist, Dr Sardara Singh Johl, would make recommendations for the betterment of the farmers as well as the state agriculture. He advised the farmers to diversify their crops and shift the area from wheat and paddy cycle.
Mr Gurdial Singh Khaira, Joint Director, State Agriculture Department said that out of the total contribution to the central pool around 60 per cent of wheat, 45 to 50 per cent rice and 20 to 25 percent cotton was contributed by Punjab itself.
He emphasised on diversification of agriculture, stating that the agriculture was no more a simple profession and it required wisdom along with planning. Dr Kesar Singh, Chief Agriculture Officer, Ludhiana, also spoke on the occasion and made the farmers abreast of the latest in agriculture and various camps to be organised by the department in this year.
On the occasion, exhibitions of seeds, machines and other agricultural equipment were organised.
