In a paradigm shift from cultivation of paddy to maize and Basmati under Punjab's programme of crop diversification, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today held detailed parleys with experts to chalk out a time-bound action programme.
"The chief minister held parleys with experts of Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), State Agriculture Department and the Progressive Farmers to chalk out a time-bound action programme aimed at assured marketing, supply of high yield seeds and cost effective farm machinery for these alternate crops," an official spokesman said here.
Presiding over separate meetings of State Maize and Basmati Development Boards here, Badal constituted a sub-group comprising Agriculture Minister, Additional Chief Secretary Development, Vice-Chancellor, PAU and three representatives amongst progressive farmers.
The sub-group will look into all aspects of quality seed supply, marketing, indigenous fabrication of small and portable dryers by local vendors besides the creation of price stabilisation fund to ensure better and remunerative prices to the maize growers, the spokesman said.
The matter has already been taken up with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ensure procurement of Maize at Minimum Support Price (MSP) through the centre's Agency National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India.
He also asked the Additional Chief Secretary Development to coordinate with the key players of maize processing units, especially those producing cattle feed, for direct tie up with the maize growers to ensure better prices to them.
The Chief Minister asked the Additional Secretary Development to tie up with the local manufacturers for the indigenous fabrication of small and portable dryers for drying up maize so as to enable the crop growers fetch maximum price of their yield.
During the meeting of Basmati Development Board, Badal appealed to the Basmati growers not to sow 1509 variety of Basmati before July 15 in any case because the premature sowing of this variety hampered the yield both in terms of quality as well as quantity.
Meanwhile, Badal was apprised about the probable fall in the export volumes of Basmati from the state during the current Kharif marketing season in the wake of stringent parameters imposed by Iran, the major importer of Basmati from India.
