Punjab Govt Forms Panel to Study at Alternative Crops to Paddy

Punjab CM stated that a team led by Chief Secretary V K Janjua has been created to investigate alternatives to paddy cultivation. He stated that the group would be touring villages and speaking with farmers to see what crops could be planted as a replacement for water-guzzling paddy.

It should be noted that two of the most important agricultural specialists, Dr. Gurdev Singh Khush and Bikram singh Gill, recently met with the committee and urged that paddy be replaced with basmati, a short duration variety called PR 126, soybeans, and maize.

The Chief Minister stated that the committee led by the Chief Secretary would present him with a report. "We're looking into paddy alternatives that use less water. Our concentration is on cotton, and to encourage its cultivation, we will provide appropriate water for the cotton crop until the end of April," he said.

"Cotton seeds will also receive a 33% subsidy to ensure that they are free of whitefly and pink bollworm. Crop insurance will be offered soon to help offset losses," Mann said.

In terms of basmati, he stated that if prices decline, Markfed will be the key agency for acquiring basmati. "We are establishing two centres to test pesticide residue in basmati and verify that our basmati fulfils all importing nations' regulations," he added.

Mann further stated that the government will ask farmers in the four cotton-growing regions of Mansa, Fazilka, Bathinda, and Muktsar not to produce moong since it 'acts as a natural host for whitefly, which later kills cotton.'