Punjab Mandi Board Chairman criticises Food Security Mission

Chandigarh, May 9 (UNI) Punjab Mandi Board Chairman and Bharti Kisan Union president Ajmer Singh Lakhowal has criticised the decision of the National Food Security Mission (NFSM) to halt financial assistance to Punjab for the forthcoming paddy season.

The other paddy producing states of South India will continue to get the assistance for growing better quality crop and for icreasing yield.

Mr Lakhowal said here today that it was most unfortunate that the assist which was given to Punjab area for the paddy season had been stopped this year. The assistance to Punjab should not have been discontinued particularly due to the fact that food security had become a major issue, he said while pointing out that during the wheat sowing season an assistance of Rs 32 crore had been given to Punjab by the Mission.

Mr Lakhowal said that he had brought this to the notice of the Chief Minsiter, who had promised to take up this issue with the Union Agriculture Minister.

He said that the Mission should support Punjab for undertaking research on less water consuming varieties of paddy.

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