In a move aimed at giving boost to crop perfsication program in the state, the Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today gave nod for constituting Sugarcane Research and Development (R&D) committee for providing High Yielding Varieties (HYV) of cane seeds to the farmers besides providing logistics and infra structural support to the cane growers.A decision regarding it was taken in a meeting of the Chief Minister with a delegation of the Sugar Mill Owners led by Chairman Markfed Mr. Jarnail Singh Wahid, who called on him at his office this afternoon.
Taking part in deliberations, the Chief Minister impressed upon the need for enhancing Sugarcane cultivation in the state by developing HYV of cane seeds besides introducing modern techniques of sugarcane cultivation in the state so that the cane cultivators could maximize their profits. Mr. Badal said that this committee under his Chairmanship with two representatives each of Sugar Mill owners, farmers, Punjab Government and the Agriculture experts would look into all the aspects for making the cane growing a remunerative profession in the state. Underlining the need for crop perfsication, he said that switching over the less water intensive crops like Sugarcane and Maize would not only help in saving the only available precious natural resources of the state in terms of soil and water but would also help in bailing out the beleaguered peasantry of the state from the current agrarian crisis.
The Chief Minister also announced the setting up of a dedicated fund worth Rs 1 crore for carrying out R&D for cane cultivation in the state. He said that that 50% share in this fund would be contributed by the private Sugar mill owners whereas the remaining 50% would be given by the state government. Mr. Badal said that this fund would be utilized for roping in the services and expertise of eminent sugarcane experts, researchers and scientists who had proven track of rich experience in sugarcane production and sugar technology.
In another significant decision, the Chief Minister also gave his nod to give 50% subsidy to sugar mill owners/ farmers for the purchase of cane harvesters in the state, so as to give boost to the usage of ultra modern techniques. Likewise, Mr. Badal said that the state government was also in the process of providing premium quality insecticides and pesticides to the farmers, for which the negotiation with the leading companies was underway. Pertinently, the state government was already giving 50% subsidy for the purchase of implements used for sowing the crop in the state.
Dwelling on another issue the Chief Minister said that the state government would also upgrade the 68 Soil Laboratories across the state for imparting best facilities to the farmers. He said that these laboratories would be well equipped with the high end technology to facilitate the farmers from across the state. Mr. Badal also assured the delegation that the state government would set up an additional facility for such laboratories as per their requirement.The Chief Minister also asked the Financial Commissioner Development (FCD) to set a panel for redressal of grievances to ensure a level playing to both the cane growers and sugar mill owners as the stakeholders. He also asked the Agriculture department to initiate an awareness campaign to motivate the farmers to go for sugarcane farming in a big way as a part of state's major thrust on crop perfsication.
On a demand of the delegation regarding the rationalizing the prices of Sugarcane, the Chief Minister said that the state government was already examining the report of a committee constituted by the Union government in this context. He said that the state government was committed for the overall welfare of the farmers and the sugar mill owners of the state. Regarding another demand of the sugar mill owners pertaining to the purchase tax, Mr. Badal said that the state government was also looking into this matter sympathetically.
On the pursuance of the Chief Minister, the delegation agreed to enhance the existing cane cess from 50 paise per quintal to 60 paise per quintal and contributing the enhanced 10 paise per quintal for funding the ongoing state government's initiatives towards drug de-addiction and rehabilitation of the drug addicts in the state.
Prominent amongst those present on the occasion included Financial Commissioner Development (FCD) Mr. Suresh Kumar, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mr. SK Sandhu, Special Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mr. Gaggandip Singh Brar, Registrar Cooperative Societies Mr. AS Miglani and Director Agriculture Dr. Mangal Singh Sandhu.The delegation of Sugar Mill also included Rana Inder Partap Singh, Mr. Harish Pahwa, Rana Veer Partap Singh and others.