Amarinder calls for new crop patterns in Punjab

Ludhiana, Sep 22: Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh has called upon the farm scientists and researchers of the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) to play a pro-active role in the diversification of agriculture.

Addressing farmers after inaugurating the two day Kisan Mela here at PAU Campus yesterday, he stressed upon the need for motivating the farmers through persuasive and scientific approach to shift from the traditional wheat-paddy rotation to new cropping pattern.

Capt Singh said it was high time to persuade farmers to go for high value added crops like oil, pulses, fruits and vegetables which were not only remunerative but also less water intensive.

He pointed out that the over exploitation of water resources for irrigation would virtually convert fertile cultivable land into a desert within next 25 years.This trend had to be reversed, he added.

He said that the water table in Punjab on an average was decreasing by three feet annually. He asked the hydrologists to come forward to suggest remedial measures to overcome this piquant situation. He laid stress on drip irrigation as the only solution to this problem which would not only retain our water level but also prove to be cost effective.

He said that industrial houses like Bhartis, ITC, Godrej and Reliance had evinced keen interests in corporate farming.He said that the government had tied up with Tropicana for procuring malta (citrus variety) for its two juice units being set up in Ferozepur and Hoshiarpur districts.

UNI