Presiding over a meeting with the state and national seed producing agencies and local seed growers, the Chief Minister asked the Vice-Chancellor of Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, to coordinate with State Directorate of Agriculture to ensure procurement of high quality wheat seed from PUNSEED, IFFCO, KRIBHCO, National Seed Corporation (NSC), PAU and the private seed producers.
He also directed the Extension Services Wing of PAU to educate the farmers about the timely schedule of sowing wheat during the coming Rabi season on one hand and to make them aware of the latest farm practices to enhance the yield both qualitatively and quantitatively, an official release said.
The farmers who are keen to sow seeds should be given proper training and technical know-how to produce the best quality seed in the state.
Meanwhile, the Additional Chief Secretary (Development) apprised Badal that a total of 35 lakh hectares area would be sown during ensuing rabi season 2015-16 and thus 35 lakh quintal quality wheat seed was required.
He also informed the Chief Minister that the state was grappling with the severe shortage of quality seed this time as the substantial quantity of seed to be used by the farmers had been mostly affected by Yellow Rust and Karnal Bunt due to "abnormal weather conditions coupled with unseasonal rains and hailstorm".