Punjab News Badal wants icar to open R&D stations in punjab

Lily

B.R
Staff member
Chandigarh April 26:

Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal urged the Indian Council of Agricultural Research to establish regional research stations in the State to boost the agriculture, dairy and fisheries sectors.

Badal was presiding over a high-level meeting of ICAR at Punjab Bhawan, organised specifically to discuss the problems concerning State's agricultural dairying and fisheries sectors. Expressing deep concern over the present status of depletion of soil fertility and decline of ground water levels in Punjab, Badal mentioned that to ensure food security of the country, Punjab had over-utilised its natural resources consequently the crop production costs were increasing and farming became non profitable business.

Emphasising the strong research support to the small and marginal farmers as the need of the hour for their survival, Badal asked the ICAR to adopt result-oriented approach in resolving all the agriculture-related issues of Punjab through establishing these research stations as early as possible. Further, Badal 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. He also urged the Centre that allocation of funds under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojna (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.

Taking part in the deliberations, eminent agricultural economist, MP (Rajya Sabha) and former Director General ICAR Dr MS Swaminathan, also supported the issues raised by the Chief Minister. He informed that he was visiting mandis to observe the wheat procurement arrangements and assured the Chief Minister to take this matter with the Centre.

 
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