Punjab Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Gurmeet Singh Khuddian
Punjab government has taken a big step for the welfare of farmers in the state. Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian held a meeting with the Maza Kisan Sangharsh Samiti in his office and formed four teams to take action against those selling fertilizers along with other products to farmers. The Agriculture Minister assured the delegation led by Maja Kisan Sangharsh Samiti President Balwinder Singh that Punjab has sufficient quantity of DAP/NPK/SSP available for the upcoming rabi season. Punjab is getting sufficient quantity of DAP and other phosphatic fertilizers.
On the issue of forced sale of fertilizers along with other agricultural products by farmers’ delegation, Gurmeet Singh Khuddian said that Punjab government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann will not tolerate exploitation of farmers. He said that strict legal action would be taken against anyone forcing farmers to buy other products along with fertilizer.
Meanwhile, Special Chief Secretary (Agriculture) KAP Sinha said that about 35 lakh hectares of wheat is likely to be cultivated in Punjab, which requires about 5.50 lakh metric tonnes of diammonium phosphate (DAP) fertiliser. He said that last month he had a meeting with the Union Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers to ensure the required supply of fertilizer to Punjab farmers for the upcoming rabi season.
Talking about the demand for sugarcane price hike, the Agriculture Minister said that the state has scheduled a meeting with the State Sugarcane Control Board on September 27 and all the mills will start crushing at the scheduled time. He also informed that the capacity of Batala Co-operative Sugar Mill has been increased from 1500 tonnes TCD to 3500 tonnes TCD.
