by Punjabnewswire4u
JALANDHAR, AUG 1
In
a leap forward towards revolutionizing the cotton cultivation in the state to
promote agriculture diversification, the Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash
Singh Badal today gave nod for introducing highly mechanized cotton pickers in
the 53 blocks falling in 10 districts of the cotton belt of the state on trial
basis.
A
decision to this effect was taken after a high level team from Gujarat gave the
demonstration regarding these cotton picking machines to the Chief Minister
here late evening.
It
may be recalled that during a recent visit of his Gujarat counterpart Mr.
Narendra Modi to Punjab, the Chief Minister had discussed the problems faced by
the cotton cultivators of the state in picking the harvest, with him. During
the deliberations Mr. Modi had assured the Chief Minister that he would soon
send a high level team from the state to solve this problem. Likewise on the
directions of Mr. Modi a team comprising Mr. AK Jadeja and Mr. Kartik Doshi
gave presentation to the Chief Minister regarding the machine. The team
apprised the Chief Minister that this ‘handy machine’ with back up eight hours
could perform very well during the farming operations.
The Chief Minister asked the members of the team to visit the state during the
cotton season in the month of February and give demonstration to the farmers
regarding the operation of this machine. He said that if the machines were
successful than the state government would launch it throughout the cotton belt
of the state. Mr. Badal categorically said that the state government would do
everything possible to promote crop diversification in the state.
Talking to the media persons the Chief Minister said that due to the exorbitant
hike in costs of farming operations and squeezing margins of profit,
agriculture was no longer a profitable venture. He said that the problems of
the Punjab farmer have increased manifolds after the centre had announced that
they would not purchase the paddy from the state in future. Mr. Badal said that
in wake of all these problems the state has embarked upon a major program of
crop diversification to encourage the farmers to adopt less water consuming
crops like Maize, Basmati, Sugarcane and Cotton.
However the Chief Minister said that apart from assured
marketing and support price thrust should be laid on mechanization of
agriculture so that the profits of the farmers could be increased. He hoped that
this new technique of Cotton cultivation could go a long way in enhancing the
profits of the farmers on one hand and facilitating them for the cultivation of
the crop on the other. Mr. Badal said that these machines would be distributed
to the farmers for the trail and once it was successful than it would be
launched in the state from the next cotton season.
Earlier the Chief Minister also visited the local Sports
College to finalize the site for the construction of a special school for
meritorious rural students. It may be recalled that in order to ensure congenial atmosphere to the
meritorious poor students of rural areas securing above 80% marks, the Chief
Minister has asked the Education department to construct six special schools in
Jalandhar, Amritsar, Mohali, Patiala, Ludhiana and Bathinda. These
upcoming School with hostel facilities would start functioning from next
academic year.
The Chief Minister was accompanied by MLA Mr. Pargat
Singh, former MLA ands Chairman District Planning Committee Kapurthala Mr.
Sarabjeet Singh Makkar, Special Principal Secreatry to Chief Minister Mr.
Gurkirat Kirpal Singh and Director Agriculture Dr. Mangal Singh Dhillon.
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