The Punjab government has approved the proposed installation of five more maize dryer units, to promote maize as an alternative crop for paddy and to check the depletion and contamination of groundwater.
These five units would be set up at a cost of Rs 26 crore and the Centre has given its approval for the funds.
Punjab Agriculture Minister Jathedar Tota Singh said these units would be set up at Machiwara, Nakoder, Kapurthala, Bhogpur and Phaglana (Hoshiarpur).
The minister also said the Punjab government has already installed two maize dryer plants - at Hoshiarpur and Nawan Sehar districts at Rs 18 crore - to dry maize according to international parameters.
By using this facility, farmers can get better remuneration as high moisture content depletes the shelf life of maize. The sectors using maize (starch manufacturers and poultry) require maize with 12 per cent moisture. The two dryers in the state were inadequate as the cost of transportation to the facility adds to the farmers' costs.
Maize prices have increased in the past few years as demand has been rising but quality product was not available. This initiative of the state government might encourage farmers to bring more area under maize cultivation.
The agriculture minister demanded that the Union government fix Rs 1,815 a quintal as the minimum support price (MSP) for maize to develop it as an alternative crop to paddy in the state. He also demanded 100 per cent procurement of maize by the Centre on MSP.
Mangal Singh, director of the state agriculture department, elaborating on the diversification programme being carried out by the department, said the area under maize crop has seen an increase this year.
He appealed to the farmers to actively participate in the agriculture camps organised by the department to tap new technologies.
GROUND FOR MAIZE
- New units to be installed at Machiwara, Nakoder, Kapurthala, Bhogpur and Phaglana (Hoshiarpur)
- Aims to promote maize as an alternative crop to paddy
- Move expected to check depletion and contamination of groundwater
- Two maize dryer plants already set up at Hoshiarpur and Nawan Sehar districts for Rs 18 crore
- Dryers helps farmers get better remuneration as high moisture content depletes the shelf life of maize
