In order to reduce the area currently under paddy cultivation in the state by promoting the cultivation of alternate crops like Maize, Soyabean and cotton, the Punjab Chief Minister today announced that the state government would provide all the equipments and machinery required for their cultivation and upkeep of the produce to the farmers at subsidized rates.Taking a round on the stalls of Agriculture implements and machinery exhibited by the national and international companies here on the third day of Progressive Punjab Agriculture Summit (PPAS) here today, the Chief Minister said that in order to motivate the farmers for the crop persification, all out efforts were being made by the state government and a special campaign to make the farmers aware about the merits of this flagship program has already been embarked. Admitting that the agriculture machinery and implements have a great role in the progress of farming, he said that the need of the hour was that these implements and machinery was made available to the farmers at subsidized rates. . Badal said that after the summit he would personally meet the progressive farmers of the different parts of the state who were successfully cultivating various crops, so that agriculture could be again made a profitable venture.
Showing keen interest in automatic cane harvesting machine which would peel the sugarcane and automatically load it in the trolley after cutting it in pieces, the Chief Minister asked the officers of the Engineering department of the Agriculture department to prepare a report regarding the requirement of these machines after deliberations with the sugarcane producers and sugar mill owners so that the state government could provide these machines to them. The manufacturers of the machine informed the Chief Minister that this machine harvests Sugar cane over one acre land in two and half hours at a cost of Rs 8000-10000 per acre.The chief Minister also evinced keen interest in the straw reapers, bailers, rotavators and hapiseeders. On the occasion he asked the officers of the Agriculture department to apprise the farmers about the subsidies being offered by the state government on these machines adding that the officers must ensure that the farmers get this subsidy on time.
The Chief Minister also got the detailed information about the tissue culture technique adopted by the Pepsico company for producing quality potato seeds. The officials of the company also informed Mr. Badal that the company produces quality potato seeds over 3500 acres of land besides cultivating the potato crop on 11000 acre in the state. They also apprised the Chief Minister that the company provides machinery for cultivating, grading and digging the potato crop to their farmers free of cost.During the exhibition the Chief Minister also sought detailed information about the battery operated spray pumps, seed refining machines and producing fertilizer and power from bio waste. On the occasion the Chief Minister also interacted with the farmers from Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh and other states to get first hand information about their experiences during the summit. The moot point of the discussion was that the agriculture was no longer a profitable venture. The farmers also expressed their gratitude to the Chief Minister for organizing this mega event for resolving the grave problems of the farmers.The Chief Minister was accompanied by his Special Principal Secretary Mr. Gaggandip Singh Brar, Chairman of Punjab Chapter of PHD Chamber of Commerce Mr. RS Sachdeva ad Joint Director of Engineering Wing of Agriculture Department Mr. Des Raj Kataria.