Deputy Commissioner Apneet Riyait has called upon farmers to shun vicious wheat-paddy cycle and come forward to adopt crop diversification, which is must in present context of agriculture sector. Visiting village Chohal and Saleran at the Apple orchards of progressive farmers Gurinder Singh Bajwa and Harman Randhawa, Deputy Commissioner Apneet Riyait said that the concerted efforts of Agriculture and Horticulture Departments were giving a fillip to crop diversification in the district with motivating farmers towards the cultivation of maize, basmati, pulses, basmati etc. She said that maize cultivation was going on across district in 52012 hectares of land while 250 hectares was under sesame whereas 150 hectares under groundnut and 73 acres under pulses cultivation. She said that efforts were afoot to enhance the areas under various crops including maize, basmati etc.
Lauding initiative of farmer Gurinder Singh for setting up Apple orchard in the region, Deputy Commissioner said that every possible effort would be made to increase the production of apples in the Kandi areas.Gurinder Singh, a retired officer of Horticulture Department said that he started the Apple production on 1.5 acres of land in 2011 and gradually added another2.50 acres of land in Apple cultivation. He apprised the Deputy Commissioner that more area is being brought under cultivation of apple in time to come as he was producing quality fruits of two varieties Anna and Dorsetto. Two farmers have take. start in apple cultivation after getting information of this model, said Gurinder adding that farmers from different areas were contacting him to know how of this produce. Prominent amongst those present on the occasion included Additional Deputy Commissioner (D) Harbir Singh, Chief Agriculture Officer Dr Viney Kumar, Agriculture urr Development officer Dr Jasbir Singh, Dr Simranjit Singh, farmers Harvinder Singh Sandhu and Mandeep Singh Gill.