IEP Chandigarh/Ludhiana, July 1
Under the guidelines of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and with the aim of ensuring increased production of paddy at much less cost to farmers, Punjab Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Mr. Gurmeet Singh Khuddian on Saturday visited Narangwal and Kotli villages of Ludhiana district where he reviewed the paddy sowing method through paddy transplanter.
On this occasion, senior AAP leader Dr. KNS Kang, Director Agriculture Gurvinder Singh, Joint Director Agriculture Engineering Jagdish Singh, Chief Agriculture Officer Narinder Singh Benipal, other senior officials were also present.
Appreciating the efforts put in by progressive farmer Tapinder Singh, Mr Gurmeet Singh Khuddian said that the young and progressive farmer has been sowing paddy through paddy transplanter for the last 5 years. He said that by adopting this method, where the labor cost is being saved by the farmer, the benefit of yield of two and a half to three quintals per acre is also being taken. Apart from this, Paneeri is being given to other farmers by the progressive farmer and they are being supported in adopting this technique.
Later, Mr Gurmeet Singh Khuddian visited the farm of Gurbant Singh Bobby at village Kotli near Aliwal, where he inspected the automatic nursery seeder machine and also witnessed the sowing of paddy through a paddy transplanter machine.
Two automatic transplant machines have been provided by Kubota Company for district Ludhiana which makes paddy transplanting very easy as this machine transplants the paddy seed in a uniform manner in trays. He told the farmers that sowing with this machine saves water and increases the yield of paddy, and also solves the labor problem.
He further said that under the guidelines of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, farmer’s grievances are being redressed on priority basis by visiting several villages.
He said that inputs of scientists, experts, as well as the farmers are being taken for the upcoming agricultural policy of Punjab. He said that Punjab government is committed to provide all possible facilities to the farmers such as timely water, subsidy on agricultural machinery.
