The Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal today said that Punjab would soon unveil its Food and Agro Processing Policy to give a big push to value addition of perishable crops and to encourage farmers to go for cash crops coming out of vicious Wheat-Paddy cycle. Inaugurating the Golden Jubilee Celebrations of PAU Here today, Badal said that this University was catalytic in realising the dream of self-sufficiency on Food Security Front and was now required to become instrumental to give a big push to persification of crops. Badal said that it was matter of great concern that while ensuring the food security of the country, the Punjabi farmers has drained out nutrients from the fertile soil of Punjab with ground water level depleting to dangerous point of black holes. He said that the enterprising farmers in mad race to surpass last year's production target have depleted the Punjab's natural strength that has not been recognised by the Union Government. He said that despite our intensive efforts, the farmers of Punjab were not getting remunerative prices for their agriculture produce and with every successive crop, the farmer was pushing himself deeper in the debt trap.
Giving a call to come out of vicious Wheat-Paddy cycle Badal said that time has come that farmers should focus on profitability alone. Badal said that the opening of Wagha Border offers an opportunity to give a big push to vegetable cultivation as Pakistan has expressed desire to import total vegetable produced by Punjab farmers. Badal said that he was going to Pakistan next month to work out the modalities for export of vegetables, fruits and other perishable goods directly through road route and it was now imperative for PAU to work out a sustainable model for Vegetable cultivation. Giving broad outlines of Food and Agro Processing Policy, Badal said that he has constituted a sub-committee on this subject in which industrial giants specialising in this area would submit a report in November and by December he would hold the road shows in different parts of the country and US, UK and Canada to invite multi-national companies to set-up their units in Punjab. The Deputy Chief Minister said that Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has already sought Rs. 5000 crore central assistance to make Agriculture persification Policy, a great success. Calling upon PAU's Scientists to become harbinger of Agriculture Growth, Badal said that the time has come that PAU should regain its pre-eminent position in Agriculture Research and develop new strains of high production, heat resistant and pest resistant seeds to make Punjab farmers most progressive in the world. Badal said that we have a direct competition with international seed companies and PAU has to prove its excellence in this field. Assuring the PAU for all types of cooperation, Badal also asked Dr. Baldev Singh Dhillon, Vice Chancellor of PAU to come with a detailed proposal for bringing PAU to the next height. Earlier on being asked about delay in paddy lifting, Badal said that there was no delay in lifting of Paddy and its procurement. He said that the directions have been issued to all the Deputy Commissioners to personally monitor the paddy procurement and lifting process. He said that for any lapses in the procurement process Deputy Commissioners would be held responsible. Releasing Postal Cover of PAU, Badal also honoured Dr. Arvind Kumar Kumar, Deputy Director General (Education) Indian Council of Agriculture Research, Dr. G.S. Kalkat, Chairman Punjab Farmers Commission, Dr. A.S. Khehra, Dr K.S. Aulakh, both former VC of PAU, Dr. C. D. Mayee, former Chairman Agriculture Scientists Recruitment Board, Dr. R.B. Singh, President National Academy of Agricultural Scientists, Dr. S.L. Mehta, Former Deputy Director General (Education) of ICAR and Former Vice Chancellor Maharana Pratap Agriculture University, Udaypur and Dr. Baldev Singh Dhillon, Vice Chancellor, PAU for their distinguished services in the field of agriculture. Meanwhile Deputy Chief Minister also inaugurated Technical and Product Sale Centre in PAU campus.
Prominent amongst those were present on the occasion included Sharanjit Singh Dhillon, PWD Minister, Mahesh Inder Singh Grewal, Advisor to CM, Pawan Kumar Tinu, Chief Parliamentary Secretary, Manpreet Singh Ayali, Darshan Singh Shivalik, Ranjit Singh Dhillon, Simarjit Singh Bains, Balwinder Singh Bains (all MLAs) and Mayor Harcharan Singh Gohalwaria.