Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal on Monday urged the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) to establish regional research stations in the state to boost the agricultural, dairy and fisheries sectors. The CM was presiding over a high level meeting of ICAR at Punjab Bhawan to discuss the problems of these sectors.
Concern over depletion of soil fertility and shrinking of ground water levels in Punjab, Badal said the state had over utilised its natural resources to ensure food security of the country consequently the crop production costs were increasing and farming became non-profitable.
Emphasising the strong research support to the small and marginal farmers for their survival, Badal asked the ICAR to adopt result-oriented approach in resolving all the agriculture issues of Punjab through establishing these research stations as early as possible.
Badal further added that productivity of current varieties of wheat and rice had reached a plateau and research to develop higher yielding verities both of wheat and short duration rice was essential that could be tolerant to pests and diseases besides adaptable present climate change. He also mentioned that research centres would further help the state in diversification through recommending suitable low water consuming alternate crops like pulses, oil seeds, vegetables and fruits especially citrus.
The chief minister also urged the Centre that allocation of funds under the RKVY scheme must be suitably redesigned for the state with sympathetic view to improve the growth rate of agriculture in Punjab. Despite our contribution to the national food security, the state agriculture had not been given due support by the Centre for improving its sustainability and developing technologies for higher returns to the peasantry. Eminent agricultural economist, MP (Rajya Sabha) and former director general ICAR MS Swaminathan also supported the issues raised by Badal.
He informed that he was visiting Mandies to observe the procurement arrangements of wheat and filled with the emotions of ‘Ecstasy’ to see the procurement of wheat, as large quantity of wheat was arriving in Mandies of Punjab, which was known as food bowl state of the country but at the same time feeling of agony also appeared to see the poor storage arrangements. He also assured the CM to take this matter with the Centre.