A delegation of progressive farmers from Argentina and Uruguay today met Agriculture Minister Jathedar Tota Singh and senior officials of the Agriculture department to discuss various crop yields in the state at Kisan Bhawan.After meeting with the delegation Agriculture Minister interacting with media persons said that delegation was very impressed with techniques and technologies of agriculture and the facilities provided to the farmers by the Punjab Government. Minister said that everyone came to know that the geographical & climatic conditions of Argentina & Uruguay are almost similar to India and likewise various crops are yielded in different regions. Minister said that Punjab Government has proposed the delegation to work together for better results in agriculture production and quality.
Punjab Agriculture Minister appraised the visiting delegation that Punjab Government is providing free power of Rs 6000 Crores to the farmers for irrigation every year besides providing subsidy on seeds and agriculture implements etc. He further said that despite of being just 1.5 area of the total area of the country Punjab is contributing 40 percent in the National food grain bowl. He said that the delegation applauded the contribution of Punjab in the nation’s food grain pool and the efforts of the Punjab Government for providing facilities to the farming sector.Jathedar Tota Singh told that the government has set up a system of minimum support price for many crops in India whereas in foreign countries there is no such system and the people have to sell their crops in the open market. He further said that Punjab Government has set up a system that no farmer has to travel not more than 5 kilometers to sell his crop.Asked about the arrangement of paddy procurements, Agriculture Minister said that all arrangements are complete and Government is all set to start procurement from 1st October.Others prominent present in the meeting included Mr NS Kalsi Additional Chief Secretary Agriculture, Mr. Jasbir Singh Bains Director Agriculture and Dr. Gurkanwal Singh Director Horticulture.