Punjab govt to focus on agri diversification

Chandigarh, July 17 (UNI) In order to give a fresh impetus to the second Green Revolution, the state government has decided to focus on agriculture diversification, research and development programme and provide financial support to the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU).

Disclosing this here today Agriculture Minister Sucha Singh Langah said that the excessive reliance on wheat-paddy rotation requires to be urgently addressed in order to bring about effective diversification of agriculture. Farming community have to diversify towards crops which were agro-climatically more sustainable as well as economically more remunerative.

He said farmers would be advised to cultivate high value crops, including coriander (dhanian), turmeric, ginger, oil seeds, pulses and vegetables. He said this would also help in checking the rapid depletion of ground water.

Mr Langah said that the production of BT cotton was to 27 lakh bales in 2006-07. The Punjab Government this year had reduced the rates of BT cotton seed from Rs 1350 to Rs 750 per packet. The minister reiterated that the state government was fully committed to meet the requirements of the farmers, that mainly included high quality certified seeds, canal water for irrigation and fertilizers.

UNI