In a major push to crop diversification, Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal announced that the Bhagwant Mann-led Punjab Government will set up processing and drying plant for moong and drying plants respectively in Jagraon sub-division of the district.
Reiterating commitment to bring farmers out of wheat-paddy cycle in Punjab, Dhaliwal said that these plants would increase profitability of farmers by adding value to the foodgrains.
He directed the officials to make seperate proposals in this regard so that work can be initiated at the earliest which will benefit the farmers in a big way.
Dhaliwal expressed hope that these plants will encourage more farmers to opt for moong and maize and will reduce the area of paddy and wheat crops. Besides, the cultivation of these two crops will also increase the groundwater level in the state.
The Minister said that state government had been emphasizing to increase the area of Moong, maize, cotton and sugarcane crops and added rice is not a food item of Punjab so that farmers should opt for new crops.
Presiding over a district level farmers' training camp at Jagraon, the Minister exhorted the farmers to desist from stubble burning which lead to environment pollution and affect soil health.
MLA Jagraon Sarvjit Kaur Manuke and ACS (Agriculture and Farmers Welfare) Sarvjit Singh also addressed the gathering in the camp.Later, Dhaliwal along with MLA and other officials visited Jagraon grain market to review procurement operations.
He said that elaborate arrangements for the smooth procurement of paddy in the state have been put in place to ensure seamless business in the grain markets.
Dhaliwal said Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has already issued detailed instructions to officials of Food & Civil Supplies department and heads of all the state procurement agencies to ensure timely purchase and payment besides immediate lifting of grain.
He said that there was sufficient availability of gunny bags besides proper arrangements for lifting and payment were already made in all the purchase centers where farmers will get the payment of their produce within stipulated time-frame.
He appealed to the farmers not to set fire crop residue in the fields as it will lead to pollution into the environment besides loss of soil fertility.Prominent among present on the occasion included AAP senior leader KNS Kang, Deputy Commissioner Surabhi Malik and others.