BADAL OFFERS HELP TO FLOOD HIT BIHARI
BRETHERN
Chandigarh August 29, 2009
Punjab would soon send chaff (toori) to the flood ravaged areas
of Bihar.
An assurance to this effect was given by the Punjab Chief Minister
Mr. Parkash Singh Badal to his Bihar counterpart, Mr. Nitish Kumar
and the Union Railways Minister Mr. Laloo Parsad Yadav. Mr. Badal
called the two leaders over telephone to express solidarity with
the flood affected people of their state.
Announcing this here today, Mr. Badal said that although Punjab
too facing problems following floods in some parts of the state,
"the people and the government of Punjab were guided by the
message of the Gurus that taught us to work towards the welfare
of the entire mankind (Sarbat da Bhalaa). He said that consignments
of animal fodder would leave for Bihar soon. There is severe shortage
of animal fodder in that state following unprecedented deluge
that has left vast areas completely inundated.
Mr. Badal also assured the Bihar Chief Minister that the government
and the people of Punjab would stand by their Bihar brethern in
their hour of adversity and would extend all kinds of assistance
that the latter needed at this juncture. "We would respond
to the Prime Minister's call for treating the Bihar floods as
a national calamity in view of the severity, magnitude and intensity
of floods there. We in Punjab know what it means to be hit by
floods as we are battling with the same problem for the past few
weeks. We would be acting in the greatest traditions of generosity,
humane-ness and large-hearted response to other people's crises
which the Punajbis are rightly famous for," said Mr. Badal
in a statement here.
The Chief Minister has also assured the Government of India
of all possible help in help contain the damage and destruction
caused by floods in Bihar.
Cooperatives to play an
important role in productivity enhancement of the crops
- Capt. Kanwaljit Singh
Markfed signs three MoUs with Syngenta
Chandigarh, August 29
In order to push 'Per Acre' yield of all the crops in general
and wheat, paddy & cotton in particular, the Markfed and Cooperative
Societies have been asked to lead a campaign for the benefits
of Punjab farmers. This was disclosed by Capt.Kanwaljit Singh,
Cooperation Minister while addressing a high level meeting held
at Chandigarh regarding supply of best quality Agro Chemicals
to Punjab farmers through Primary Agricultural Service Societies.
Markfed has been given this mandate to make available Best Quality
Agro Chemicals both from own formulation as well as best brands
of the market at the door-steps of farmers. Capt.Kanwaljit Singh
expressed that Markfed is already playing a laudable role in distribution
of fertilizers to the farmers through Cooperative Societies as
during the last two years, the share of fertilizer distribution
through Cooperatives has been increased from 35% to 60% in the
overall fertilizers market in the State.
Emphasizing the need to provide proper training and educate
the farmers for judicious, safe and efficient use of pesticides,
Capt. Kanwaljit Singh announced that the Markfed in collaboration
with World's leading Agri-Business Company; Syngenta, having turn
over of more than 36,000 crore will begin the 'Productivity enhancement
campaign in Punjab initially in five districts namely; Ropar,
Fatehgarh Sahib, Nawanshahar, Hoshiarpur and part of Jalandhar
have been selected where two clusters of ten villages each will
be identified for educating the farmers for the purpose. Each
member farmer of the society will be contacted by the team of
Markfed & Syngenta officials alongwith the Agricultural Experts
to disseminate the technical information. Capt Singh further underlined
the need to evolve eco-friendly plant protection system as due
to extensive use of pesticides the soil quality had already been
degraded resulting in continuous decline in production. He asked
the Syngenta management to ensure the availability of quality
agri inputs on affordable prices to the Punjab farmers to rejuvenate
their sagging economy. While speaking, Shri Jagdeep Singh Nakai,
Chief Parliamentary Secretary, Cooperation Punjab explained that
there is great demand of Markfed's Agro Chemicals in the cotton
belt. The campaign of Markfed for productivity enhancement in
cotton and adoption of Maur, Talwandi Sabo and Sangat blocks,
has received good response. Shri G.S.Grewal, IAS Managing Director
Markfed assured the Cooperative Minister that Markfed will continue
to formulate and supply Best Quality Agro Chemicals from its Mohali
Plant.
Further, the Markfed & Syngenta will jointly open 3 Farmers
Training Centres at Gidderbaha, Rajpura and Jalandhar to supply
the requisite fertilizers, best quality agro chemicals, ISI marka
cattlefeed besides imparting training to the farmers. In this
regard, three MOUs were signed between Markfed & Syngenta
on 29.8.2008 for which Mr.John Atkins, World Head, Syngenta Switzerland
and Mr.Andrew Guthrie, Head Asian Countries, Singapore especially
came to Chandigarh. The MOUs were signed by Shri G.S.Grewal on
behalf of Markfed and Mr. Parkash Apte, Managing Director, Syngenta
India.
66 SOIL TESTING LABS TO TEST 6 LAKH SOIL SAMPLES- LANGAH
CHANDIGARH, 29 August: In order to get maximum yield from crops
66 soil testing laboratories were operational in the state which
would test about 6 lac samples of soil, this year.
Revealing this Punjab Agriculture Minister S. Sucha Singh Langah
said that farmers should get their soil tested and uses fertilizer
accordingly. He said after soil testing farmers would come to
know the deficiency of fertile elements.
Mr. Langah said besides these 66 soil testing labs in the state
two labs were operational in Agriculture University Ludhiana,
eight labs under Markfed and one lab was being run by NFL. He
appealed to farming community to get their soils tested before
using fertilizer.
IRRIGATION PROGRAMME FOR KHARIF SEASON ANNOUNCED
CHANDIGARH, 29 August:
The Irrigation Department, Punjab has announced the Rotational
irrigation Programme for the Kharif Season through Canal water
from 2 September to 9 September, 2008. The channels of Sirhind
Canal System would run on priority basis from Abohar Branch, Patiala
feeder, Bhatinda Branch, Bist Doab Canal and Sidhwan Branch, respectively.
Disclosing this here today a spokesman of the irrigation department
said that direct distributaries of Ghaggar link and its off taking
channels i.e. Ghaggar Branch and Patiala Minor in Group 'B' being
in the Ist preference will run to their indent. Balance water
supplies available will be utilised in direct distributaries of
Bhakra main line of Group 'A'.
The spokesman further said that the Punjab channels off taking
from Harika and Ferozepur Head Works & Branches i.e. Abohar
Branch off taking from Sirhind Feeder and its distributaries of
group "B" would run on first preference to their indent.
Balance water supplies available would be utilised in direct distributaries
of Sirhind Feeder in Group "A".
The spokesman also said that the channels off taking from upper
Bari Doab Canal i.e. Kasur Branch Lower with its distributaries
being in first Preference would run to their indent. Balance Surplus
water available would be utilised in Sabraon Branch, Lahore Branch,
Main Branch Lower and with its distributaries respectively.
