Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today approved the constitution of 10 member committee to formulate a long term State Agriculture Policy for the rejuvenation of the agriculture sector thereby improving the livelihood of people in rural areas.
Disclosing this here today a spokesperson of the Chief Minister’s Office said that the Committee would be headed by the Chairman of the Punjab State Farmers’ Commission Dr. GS Kalkat besides Financial Commissioner Development Mr. GS Sandhu, Financial Commissioner Animal Husbandry Mr. JS Sandhu, Vice Chancellor GADVASU Ludhiana Dr. VK Taneja, Vice Chancellor PAU Ludhiana Dr. BS Dhillon, Director National Centre for Agricultural Economics & Policy Research New Delhi Dr. Ramesh Chand, Director Indian Institute of Horticultural Research Bangaluru Dr. AS Sidhu, Consultant, Centre for Reviving Green Revolution, PAU Ludhiana Dr. AS Dhatt and Ex-Director Agro Economic Centre PAU Ludhiana Dr. Karam Singh would be the members besides MD Milkfed & Member Secretary Punjab State Farmers Commission Mr. BS Sidhu would be its Member Secretary. The Committee would submit its report within three month.
The spokesperson further said that it was the need of the hour to evolve a long term State Agriculture Policy to overcome the stagnation in the agriculture sector, besides improving the economic lot of rural masses by making agriculture profession remunerative and economically viable.
It may be recalled that agriculture is the backbone of Punjab economy since it provided direct or indirect employment to about 50% of the state’s population and contributes around 28% towards Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP). However, agriculture based on Rice-Wheat cropping system has slowly turned into an unrewarding activity due to unfavorable price regime and lack of value addition. The situation is likely to be further exacerbated due to increase in production of rice and wheat in other parts of the country and integration of agricultural trade with global markets.