Punjab, the state known as country's food bowl which produces about 19% of India’s wheat, 11 % of rice and 5 % of cotton, today got coveted award for 'Best Big State in Agriculture' during India Today State of States Conclave at New Delhi. The state has contributed 25-50% of rice and 38-75 % of wheat to the central pool of food grains over the last four decades.Additional Chief Secretary (Agriculture) Viswajeet Khanna along with Resident Commissioner, Punjab Bhawan New Delhi Mrs. Rakhee Gupta Bhandari today received the award on behalf of the Punjab Government from Vice President of India Mr. M.Venkaiah Naidu during the event.Mr. Khanna revealed that the state has been selected for this coveted Award considering the initiatives took by Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh for various reforms in agriculture sector including In-Situ Crop Residue Management, farmers` loan waiver, crop diversification and other core areas.Mr. Khanna said that Punjab State Farmers and Farm workers Commission has been mandated to prepare State Farmers Policy aimed at improving the income of farmers. Besides, a budget of Rs 269 crore has been earmarked for the State under In-situ Crop Residue Management for the current financial year and Rs 395 crore for the next financial year. Under this scheme, total of nearly 27000 residue management machines have been provided to farmers. Out of which 4054 custom hiring centres with 80 % subsidy and remaining Machinery on 50% subsidy to individuals. In addition 30000 such machines would be provided next year.
During 2017-18 the state produced a record food grain production of 31.7 million MT and in 2017 the state produced a record production of 199.72 Lakh MT of paddy out of which 179.34 Lakh Mt was Procured. Similarly during Rabi 2017-18 state produced 178.30 LMT of wheat with a productivity of about 51 quintals per hectare. The state procured 127.5 Lakh MT of wheat for the central pool.Mr. Khanna further revealed that the state launched a loan waiver for the small and marginal farmers wherein a waiver upto Rs. 2 lakh is being given to all the marginal farmers and also to the small farmers who have availed loan upto Rs. 2 Lakh. To date a sum of Rupees 1738 crores has been provided as relief to about 3.07 lakh farmers in the state of cooperative Banks. 1.41 Lakh marginal farmers of commercial banks with loan of Rs. 1185 Crores is being waived. Besides this 93000 small farmers of cooperative banks are to be covered in 3rd phase by giving debt relief of Rs. 750 Crores. 51023 small farmers of commercial banks are to be covered in 4th phase with Rs. 175.69 crores. A financial assistance of Rs 23500/- per hectare has been extended for laying 1000 hectares of maize crop demonstrations as a part of the drive to promote crop diversification. Under Crop Diversification programme, Rs 5000/- per hectare was provisioned by laying 890 such demonstrations of maize.Under Soil Health Card (SHCs) Scheme, 12.51 lac SHCs have been distributed to the farmers up to end of September 2018. A campaign has been launched to educate the farmers about judicious use of agro-chemicals. The use of five pesticides viz Acephate, Carbadazim, Triazophos, Thiamethoxam and Tricyclazole has been discouraged during kharif as the residual effect of these pesticides was detected in the produce which resulted in rejection of the export consignments of Punjab Basmati. This resulted in better price of Basmati to farmers this year. Crop loss compensation has been raised from 8000 to Rs. 12000 per acre.