PUNJAB CM okays introduction of cotton pickers on trial basis

Jalandhar, August 1, 2013: In a leap forward towards revolutionising the cotton cultivation in the state to promote agriculture diversification, the Punjab Chief Minister  Parkash Singh Badal today gave nod for introducing highly mechanised cotton pickers in the 53 blocks falling in 10 districts of the cotton belt of the state on trial basis.

A decision to this effect was taken after a high level team from Gujarat gave the demonstration regarding these cotton picking machines to the Chief Minister here late evening. 

It may be recalled that during a recent visit of his Gujarat counterpart  Narendra Modi to Punjab, the Chief Minister had discussed the problems faced by the cotton cultivators of the state in picking the harvest, with him. During the deliberations, Modi had assured the Chief Minister that he would soon send a high level team from the state to solve this problem. Likewise on the directions of Modi a team comprising AK Jadeja and Kartik Doshi gave presentation to the Chief Minister regarding the machine. The team apprised the Chief Minister that this ‘handy machine’ with back up eight hours could perform very well during the farming operations.

The Chief Minister asked the members of the team to visit the state during the cotton season in the month of February and give demonstration to the farmers regarding the operation of this machine. He said that if the machines were successful than the state government would launch it throughout the cotton belt of the state.  Badal categorically said that the state government would do everything possible to promote crop diversification in the state. 

Talking to the media persons the Chief Minister said that due to the exorbitant hike in costs of farming operations and squeezing margins of profit, agriculture was no longer a profitable venture. He said that the problems of the Punjab farmer have increased manifolds after the centre had announced that they would not purchase the paddy from the state in future.  Badal said that in wake of all these problems the state has embarked upon a major program of crop diversification to encourage the farmers to adopt less water consuming crops like Maize, Basmati, Sugarcane and Cotton.

However the Chief Minister said that apart from assured marketing and support price thrust should be laid on mechanisation of agriculture so that the profits of the farmers could be increased. He hoped that this new technique of Cotton cultivation could go a long way in enhancing the profits of the farmers on one hand and facilitating them for the cultivation of the crop on the other. He said that these machines would be distributed to the farmers for the trail and once it was successful than it would be launched in the state from the next cotton season.

Earlier the Chief Minister also visited the local Sports College to finalise the site for the construction of a special school for meritorious rural students. It may be recalled that in order to ensure congenial atmosphere to the meritorious poor students of rural areas securing above 80% marks, the Chief Minister has asked the Education department to construct six special schools in Jalandhar, Amritsar, Mohali, Patiala, Ludhiana and Bathinda. These upcoming School with hostel facilities would start functioning from next academic year.

The Chief Minister was accompanied by MLA Pargat Singh, former MLA and Chairman District Planning Committee Kapurthala  Sarabjeet Singh Makkar, Special Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Gurkirat Kirpal Singh and Director Agriculture Dr. Mangal Singh Dhillon.