To have affirmative say of peasantry in the policies and programmes related to agricultural and allied activities, the Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today approved the modalities to establish farmers’ advisory body Punjab Kisan Vikas Chamber (PKVC) on the pattern of industrial organizations like Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), PHD Chamber of Commerce, Associated Chambers of Commerce of India (Assocham) and Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI).Presiding over a high level meeting with several progressive farmers associated with horticulture, floriculture, vegetables & fruits, mushroom besides dairy, fishery, poultry, piggery, goatry and bee-keeping here at Punjab Bhawan this morning, the Chief Minister said this would be a non-political forum exclusively dedicated to the cause of farming community. He also announced to nominate Chairman of Punjab Farmers’ Commission Dr. G.S. Kalkat as the patron of the PKVC. Mr. Badal also gave nod for registering the society and it would run from the Mandi Bhawan, Punjab Mandi Board, Mohali till Chamber’s building was constructed in due course of time. Mr. Badal said the entire construction cost of the chamber’s complex would be borne by the state government and the adequate land would be provided by GMADA. The state government would initially give funds to run the chamber till it becomes fully self sustainable.
The Chief Minister said it was high time to set up such organization to provide an interactive platform to the farmers so as to enable them to take up their issues at an appropriate level for the quick resolution to their satisfaction. Mr. Badal said that the chamber would engage the services of renowned agriculture experts for seeking their advice on matters related to the agriculture sector. This would help the chamber to contest their claims vigorously with the central and state government in a meaningful and result oriented manner. Likewise, legal advice on certain contentious issues with regard to inter-state marketing and export policies would be sought from legal experts. The Chief Minister appreciated the free and frank suggestions put forth by the progressive farmers and asked the VC PAU to implement them in the right earnest, adding he said these farmers had vast experience and expertise in their respective fields as they have put up sizeable chunk of their life span in experimenting new innovations at ground level.
Without mincing any words, he said we should not hesitate to transform their ideas into actions as few of them were far more intelligent and practical than our researchers.Briefing the Chief Minister about the upcoming PKVC, Dr. Kalkat said that the funds by the way of admission fee of members and their annual subscriptions would be raised and the chamber would be at liberty to raise/accept funds by way of grants, loans, donations, gifts, advances and any other mode from government, institutions, firms, companies, persons both from India and abroad. The Executive council would be constituted form out of members of the PKVC. The first Executive Council including Chairman/Vice Chairman shall be nominated by the Chairman of Punjab State Farmers Commission. The term of members of executive council shall be two years. The member shall be eligible for re-selection only once. The term of the office bearer (President/Vice President) of the Executive Council shall be three years from the date they assume the charge. The Executive Council shall further constitute sub-committees on field crops, fruits, vegetables, potato, livestock, dairy, fishery, piggery, bee-keeping, mushroom, farm forestry, agri-business and agri-marketing.
Dwelling on the aims and objectives of the PKVC, Dr. Kalkat informed the Chief Minister that this unique organization would create opinion for reorienting the policies of the state/central govt./their organizations with a view to keep them focused on the development of farming and welfare of farmers with an overall interest of development of farming and prosperity of the farmers besides it would also offer a platform for discussion on the issues confronting farming and farmers and to act as a repository of knowledge on matters related to agriculture in Punjab. The farmer’s body would also seek the removal of obstacles in the rapid growth of agricultural production, marketing, processing and trade both at the national and international level. The Chamber shall also approach the state/central government to create facilities for agro processing with a view to improve farmer’s income and take up any other activity connected with the welfare of the farmers.
Earlier, eminent progressive farmers in different fields of agriculture, horticulture and allied farming activities viz. Kanwlajit Singh Brar, Simranpreet Singh, Gurcharan Singh, Major Manmohan Singh, Rajpal Singh Gandhi, Gurjitender Singh, Gurdial Singh, Kesar Singh, Jangbahadur Singh Sangha, Shehnaz Kureshi, Kulwant Singh, Davinder Singh, Vikram Ahuja, Prabhjit Singh, Avtar Singh Dhindsa, Balwinder Singh Tikka, Parbhat Singh and Rashpinder Singh gave their vital inputs and suggestions about the chamber.Prominent amongst others who were present in the meeting included Chairman of Punjab Farmers’ Commission Dr. G.S. Kalkat, Additional Chief Secretary (Development) Mr. Suresh Kumar, Special Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mr. Gaggandip Singh Brar, Vice Chancellor PAU Dr. B.S. Dhillon, Vice Chancellor GADVASU Dr. A.S. Nanda, Agriculture Commissioner Dr. Balwinder Singh Sidhu and Director Agriculture Mr. Gurdial Singh.