Germany will help Punjab in promoting organic farming in the state which is considered to be as the foodbowl of the country.
It was agreed in a meeting of a German delegation led by Peter Bleser, Parliamentary State Secretary (Vice Minister) Ministry of food and agriculture comprising representatives of German ministry of food and agriculture, federal parliament and government agencies.
The delegation called on Punjab Agriculture Minister Tota Singh here, said an official release.
Singh told German minister that Punjab has played a key role in making India self sufficient on food security front. "Now Punjab and Germany should join hands to promote organic farming in the state," he said.
It was also agreed in the meeting that Punjab Agriculture University would exchange technological know how with agricultural universities of Germany and would jointly work to come out with new strains of pest resistant crops.
Listing out new initiatives, Singh said the government is developing custom hiring method through village co-operatives to help farmers and also trying to reduce the use of pesticides to minimise damage to crops.
Further elaborating, the minister said the state government is actively promoting green manures and organic farming and also encouraging local manufacturers to produce machines.
He disclosed that the state government is using ground water re-charging to stop depletion of ground water. He also conveyed that the government was encouraging farmers to adopt crop diversification techniques so that their income is enhanced.
Bleser in the meeting informed that farmers in Germany are trained to equip themselves with latest know how in farm sector.
He also informed that Germany has very advanced technology in seed and animal genetics.
