The incessant efforts by the Agriculture Department, Punjab towards promotion of the of judicious use of fertilizers has brought down the consumption of D.A.P fertilizer, resulting in a direct saving of Rs. 650 crore to the farmers of the state, informed Jathedar Tota Singh, Agriculture & NRI Affairs Minister Punjab.While Presiding over the state level meeting of Agriculture Department at Kisan Bhawan here today, the minister said that in the current scenario, in order to transform agriculture into a profitable venture, it is pertinent to cut down the input costs and added that discouraging irrelevant use of fertilizers is a step in that direction. He informed that through the integrated Nutrition Management (INM) the farmers are being guided towards maintain the soil health for better productivity .As a result, " We have been to able to bring down the D.A.P usage without affecting the produce as well as have been successful in saving the soil from over usage of fertilizers, " said he .
The minister also advised the field officers to put in their best to keep the farmers abreast with the latest recommendations of Punjab Agriculture University (PAU) and directed the department ensured prompt delivery of subsidy as per the government policy to the farmers using PAU recommended varieties of seeds.The Agriculture Minister informed that area under Paddy, Maize and Cotton has increased in the current year and a bumper crop is expected which will be highly beneficial to the farmers as well as the state economy.Earlier Mr. N.S Kalsi ACS Punjab directed the officials to keep thorough check on the quality of seeds, fertilizers and pesticides available in the market and take stern action as per the policy against the dealers whose samples are found to be substandard.Mr. Anurag Verma, Secretary Agriculture, Mr. Jasbir Singh, Director , other officials of the directorate of Agriculture and the Chief Agriculture Officers from all the districts were present on the occasion.