Protect farmers' interests, Governor tells industry

Chandigarh, Aug 4 (UNI) Punjab Governor Gen (retd) S F Rodrigues felt the need for a ''holistic plan'' for efficient, cost effective, sustainable and enhanced agriculture production keeping in view the farmers' interests.

Addressing a conference on Crop Protection Chemicals and Food safety here yesterday, the Punjab Governor exhorted the industry to be proactive in taking the country's agriculture forward. ''It is a matter of concern that with best brains in the world, we are still marginally above sub-Saharan Africa even after 58 years of independence,'' Gen Rodrigues stated.

Talking about agricultuire scenario in Punjab, he said that for agriculture diversification to leverage the state's agricultural produce, formation of farmers' commission, upgradation of infrastructure facilities and direct procurement from farmers were some of the initiatives of the state administration to empower the farmers.

He said there was a major scope for dairying and poultry in Punjab and various steps were being taken to promote these agro-based professions, as these were supplementary alternatives and employment generating ventures in rural areas. He said that milk processing facilities were being created to ensure value added on their products. Special efforts have been made for promoting horticulture produce through research and development strategies and processing and marketing of citrus and other fruits is being promoted.

He stressed the need for well regulated mechanism and balanced inputs since misuse is potentially harmful.

General Rodrigues further said that a modern terminal market for food and vegetables is being set up at Chandigarh, provided with all modern facilities of cold storage, state of the art testing/certification lab, and provision for food processing unit.

He said it would cater to Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir.

Expressing serious concern over the depletion of underground water resources, General Rodrigues said that the fall of water table by one meter every year is alarming and impressed upon the agriculture scientists the need to explore affordable water harvesting technologies and for educating the farmers to make judicious use of water for irrigation.

UNI PS LL BS1023