PM promises concrete solution to farmers' loans and debts

Ludhiana, Sep 27 (UNI) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today promised the beleagured farming community that the Union government would soon come up with ''concrete solutions'' to the problems of loans and debts being faced by the farmers.

''I am aware that many farmers are facing financial problems,'' he said, addressing a public rally here, and adding he expected that the Centre's expert committee would come up with concrete solutions to their problems in a few months' time.

He pointed out that the Centre had reduced the rate of interest on farm loans to seven per cent.

''We (Union government) have worked hard to improve the lot of farmers. Not only have we raised the prices of wheat and paddy, we have also been working for a second Green Revolution in Punjab,'' he said.

Reminding the people of the agrarian state that the Centre had allocated Rs 100 crore for the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) here, Dr Singh said this university must again bring new technology and new crops to ensure that Punjab continues to be the land of milk and honey''.

He stated that Punjab was moving to new areas of agriculture.

''Gradually more and more farmers are growing horticultural crops,'' he said, citing an example of 'Field Fresh centre of Excellence', which he later launched at Ladhowal on the city outskirts.

''Punjab's farmers will get far greater incomes through high value horticulture than from paddy and wheat, and they will feed not just India but people across the world,'' the Prime Minister said.

Though the Centre was looking forward to ''the second green revolution in Punjab'', the state's future was dependent on more industries and knowledge centres, he said.

The six-laning of Ambala-Jalandhar and four laning of Ludhiana-Chandigarh highways under the NHAI programme were some of the steps taken to imrpove the state's infrastructure to benefit the industry, he said.

Pointing out that Ludhiana and Amritsar have been taken up under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission under which Ludhiana would be provided assistance for water supply and sewerage projects. he also assured support to the state government's proposal of Mass Transport System in Ludhiana.

The Prime Minister also lauded Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh for providing ''wise and forward looking leadership'' to the state.

Dr Singh said he was now confident that the people of Punjab can look forward to a bright era of agrarian prosperity and industrial development.

''We are bringing the fields, the factories and the markets of Punjab closer to consumers across India and the world,'' the Prime Minister said.

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