Farmers Commission asks farmers not to waste loan money

Ludhiana, Mar 13 (UNI) Punjab State Farmers Commission Chairman G S Kalkat today advised farmers to use their loan money only for a productive purpose rather than wasting it on ''showing off''.

Inagurating the two day Kisan Mela at the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) here, he said a social reform movement to discourage ''show off culture'' should be initiated.

Dr Kalkat said education is of vital importance for any development, emphasizing that it should be the social responsibility that steps be taken to take care of rural education. He said good facilities for education are a must for national development.

He said the State Farmer's Commission has a plan to establish 142 new Farmers Service Centres in the state to provide subsidy of Rs 3.33 lakh for purchasing farm implements worth Rs 10 lakh. He mentioned that rather than purchasing their own tractors or Happy Seeders or any other cost-intensive machinery, they should go in for sharing through a cooperative basis.

He said until the small farmers learn to do farming collectively on cooperative basis, it would be difficult to make progress.

Stressing on the Kisan Mela theme 'Save Environment, SavePunjab', Dr Kalkat, one of the country's top agri scientists said that the declining water table is a major issue in the state and it mist be tackled through diversification.

Analyzing the factors that led to the Green Revolution he said that the same endeavours including favourable financial and policy support from the government, thrust by PAU and rational use of natural resources would be required for a new green revolution.

At least 25 lakh acres should be put under maize, oilseeds and pulses for addressing the problem of water scarcity in Punjab, he added. However a conceret policy for the assured procurement of these crops would be required to encourage farmers, he added.

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