MOHALI, FEB 8
The Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal said that Punjab is all set to host the first ever Progressive Punjab Agriculture Summit (PPAS) here at the legendary Baba Banda Singh Bahadur War Memorial, Chappar Chirri over an area of 130 acres from February 16-19, 2014.
Addressing the media persons after the inaugurating Rs. 50 crore Modern Fruit & Vegetable Market here in Sector-65 A, the Chief Minister revealed that it would be a mega technology event to facilitate the transformation of agriculture for the benefit of farmers, which would be attended by all stakeholders ranging from farmers to food processors. The ultimate goal of the summit was to emerge consensus for evolving a viable National Agriculture Policy in the interests of farmers. The Chief Minister said that Punjab had played a pivotal role in the nation’s freedom struggle and the same manner our state being on the forefront of the agriculture deserved to host this Agriculture Summit to safeguard the rights of peasantry. He said nearly 50,000 farmers alone from Punjab and 5000 farmers from other states across the country would participate in the summit. The Chief Minister disclosed that farmers from West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Assam, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, J&K have already confirmed their participation.
In a bid to encourage the renowned farmers from Punjab and other states, the Chief Minister said that they have decided to honor three famers from each district of Punjab and three farmers from each state of the country with a cash award of Rs. 51,000 and memento in recognition for their outstanding contribution in the field of Agriculture and allied farming. Likewise, 50 experts and scientists in the field of agriculture and animal husbandry would also be honored for their exemplary services in the field of research & development of Agriculture. A Coffee table book highlighting the Punjab’s contribution in making our country self-reliant in food production and ushering in green and white revolution is also being brought out on this historic occasion.
The Chief Minister further said that apart from farmers, all the Chief Ministers, Agriculture Ministers and eminent political leaders of National repute have been invited to this historic event. An internationally acclaimed Agriculture Scientist and Plant Breeder Dr. GS Khush had already confirmed his participation. An exhibition displaying latest farm machinery, agriculture equipments and implements would be organized over an area of 35 acres and nearly 400 stalls displaying live demo of drip irrigation, net houses, live stock, machinery, inputs would be put up. Apart from this, 11 technical sessions on various aspects of agriculture and allied farming including dairy, fishery, bee-keeping, piggery, goatry etc. would be organized over an area of 10 acres in four hangers. Experts , Agri Scientists and Economists from 10 countries viz. Canada, Pakistan, UK, Denmark, Netherlands, Australia, USA, Israel, Italy, New Zealand would attend the summit besides heads and representatives of 13 National Institutions including Indian Council of Agriculture Research New Delhi, Director of Animal Husbandry, Dairy & Fishery New Delhi, National Horticulture Board, National Seeds Corporation, New Delhi, Coconut Development Board Kerala, National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd. New Delhi, Directorate of Plant Protection Quarantine & Storage, Faridabad, National Horticulture Mission, New Delhi, National Committee on Plasticulture Applications in Horticulture New Delhi, State Farm Corporation of India New Delhi, Small Farmers' Agri Business Consortium (SFAC) New Delhi, National Dairy Development Board, Gujarat and National Cooperative Development Corporation, New Delhi.
Mr. Badal further informed the media that several leading industrial houses in Agri Business like Aditya Birla Group, Tata Chemicals, Mahindra & Mahindra Agri Business, Godrej Agrovet, Dabur India Ltd., ITC, Nestle, Coca Cola, PepsiCo India and DSCL (Shriram Fertilizers & Chemicals) would also actively take participate in the summit by putting up their stalls in the exhibition.
The Chief Minister was accompanied by the Chairman Punjab State Farmers’ Commission Dr. GS kalkat, Chairman Punjab Mandi Board Mr. Ajmer Singh Lakhowal, FCD Mr. Suresh Kumar and his Special Principal Secretary Mr. Gaggandip Singh Brar.
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