The Punjab Government would hold 'Progressive Punjab Agriculture Summit -2014' - a mega agricultural event first time in the history of the state on February 16 at Chappar Chiri (Mohali).A decision to this effect was taken by Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today while presiding over a preliminary meeting held here at Punjab Bhawan with the top brass of the state to review the arrangements of this forthcoming summit. Mr. Badal approved five day long programme of the Summit and massive Exhibition. Badal categorically said that the main objective of the Summit was to give impetus to the agro based economy of the state by showcasing various technical aspects being introduced by the state government for the agricultural development in the state. Punjab was basically an agrarian economy but today in terms of crop productivity and soil fertility the agriculture has reached at a saturation point and this summit would prove to be a mile stone for the development of agricultural sector through bringing an awareness amongst our farmers for opting allied farming under the persification plan of the state that would rut the farmers from wheat/paddy rotation on one hand and supplement their income on the other. The Chief Minister directed the officers to identify National as well as International Institutions to ensure their rich participation in the Summit besides, extending invitation to a large number of the progressive farmers, agriculture experts and leading agriculture companies from across the globe for having detailed deliberations during the summit for chalking out the strategy to bail out the farmers of the state from the current agrarian crisis. Mr. Badal further asked the concerned departments, PAU and GADVASU to coordinate in a proper manner to make this mega historic event a great success.
Badal also hoped that this summit would also open new avenues in the Food Processing sector, which would immensely benefitted our farmers.It was informed in the meeting that the inaugural session on February 16 would follow a massive Agro Exhibition over about 50 acres with 400 stalls by the exhibitors from across the globe. About 12 Technical Sessions on various agro subjects would be conducted during five day long programme till February 20 and last two days would be dedicated to the Horticulture sector in which a large participation of different countries is expected. During the summit progressive farmers, scientists, researchers and other eminent persons who had contributed enormously for the development of the Agricultural sector would also be honoured. Prominent amongst those present on the occasion included Chairman Punjab State Farmer’s Commission Dr. GS Kalkat, , Advisor to the CM on National Affairs Mr. Harcharn Bains, Chief Secretary Mr. Rakesh Singh, FCD Mr. Suresh Kumar, Principal Secretary to CM and Financial Commissioner Co-operation Mr. SK Sandhu, Special Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mr. Gaggandip Singh Brar, Financial Commissioner Animal Husbandry Mr. G Vajralingam, VC PAU Dr. BS Dhillon, VC GADVASU Dr. VK Taneja besides senior officers of the state government.