Chandigarh/New Delhi: Apna Punjab Media: Punjab Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian today placed before Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Chauhan the matter of providing ‘Agriculture Package’ to the state. Khuddis also gave a written memorandum for ‘agriculture package’ in the meeting held in Delhi and stressed on considering the case of Punjab on priority basis in view of the current agricultural crisis. Minister Chauhan also presented his suggestions to deal with the agricultural crises of the state and assured to consider this issue in a phased manner. This was the first meeting of the Khudia residents with the new Union Agriculture Minister.
Agriculture Minister Khudia raised the issue of central assistance for stubble management and agricultural diversification. He said that due to non-burning of stubble, the cost to the farmers of Punjab has increased, hence the farmers of the state should be compensated on per acre basis as cooperative federalism also demands the help of the state governments. He demanded that the ratio of 60:40 in the earlier 100 percent sponsored scheme for stubble management should be abolished from 2023-24. Khudian said Punjab farmers are contributing 21 per cent of paddy and 31 per cent of wheat to the central pool, but Punjab faces many problems in the supply of fertiliser.
He said that the supply of fertilizer should be given uninterrupted. He also raised the demand for restoration of subsidy on wheat seeds. He said that earlier 33 percent subsidy was given, which has now been stopped. Similarly, the state insisted on releasing the outstanding amount of Rs 4.26 crore to the Agricultural Statistics Authority. The Agriculture Minister sought financial help from the Center for crop diversification so that 11.50 lakh hectare area in the state can be brought under paddy. The old sharing system of centrally sponsored schemes should be abolished and converted into 100% grant. The Agriculture Minister said that Shivraj Chauhan has responded well to the demands of Punjab and has shown special interest in agricultural diversification and stubble management. The Khuddis also raised the demand for setting up a ‘Central Cotton Research Institute’ for the Narma region. He also demanded that the next generation of Bt cotton along with Bt cotton seed BG-3 should be made available soon as cotton cultivation in Punjab is decreasing significantly and farmers should be given new seeds to generate interest in cotton. . Khuddis also demanded personal intervention of the Union Agriculture Minister in view of the attack of whitefly and pink maggot on Narma in Punjab. Mr. Khuddian also met Food Processing Minister Chirag Paswan and demanded to give agriculture-based projects to Punjab. Special Chief Secretary of Agriculture Department KAP Sinha, Agriculture Director Jaswant Singh and other senior officials of the department and ministry were present in the meeting.
