Close X
Monday, November 11, 2024
ADVT 
India

Punjab announces cotton mechanisation programme

Darpan News Desk Darpan, 05 May, 2014 04:33 PM
    The Punjab government Monday announced that a "Cotton Mechanisation Programme" would be introduced in the cotton-producing Malwa belt of south-west Punjab.
     
    It will give a boost to crop diversification in the state and maximise profit of cotton cultivators.
     
    Under the programme, okayed by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, pneumatic planters, cotton picking machines and high yielding varieties of seeds would be introduced. A "Centre of Excellence of Cotton" would also be set up in Bathinda, a spokesman of the chief minister's office said here.
     
    "The project primarily aims at maximising the profit of the cotton cultivators, reducing the input cost by overcoming the problem of expensive labour and bringing down the process of cotton cultivation to pave way for high yield of wheat crop," he said.
     
    Under the ambitious programme, the Punjab Agriculture University (PAU) and the state agriculture department will work with agro companies like John Deer, Bayer India and others. They will conduct adaptive trails on 1,500 acres of land in villages near Malout of Muktsar district by practicing high density cotton cultivation, in which seven packets of cotton seeds were sown instead of existing two over one acre of land.
     
    Farmers will be given equipment for sowing and chemicals by private companies free of cost.
     
    "To encourage the farmers for adopting high density cotton cultivation, the state government would provide a subsidy of Rs.4,000 per acre to the farmers under the programme," he said.
     
    Punjab farmers mostly do wheat-paddy cycle farming. The state is the biggest contributor of foodgrains to the central kitty.

    MORE India ARTICLES

    Priyanka's comment about Smriti shows arrogance

    Priyanka's comment about Smriti shows arrogance
    BJP leader Arun Jaitley Monday said Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's comment about Smriti Irani in Amethi showed her "arrogance at its worst".

    Priyanka's comment about Smriti shows arrogance

    Case against Ramdev for hurting religious sentiments of Sikhs

    Case against Ramdev for hurting religious sentiments of Sikhs
    In his complaint, Harpreet Singh said Ramdev had hurt religious sentiments of Sikhs after he was shown in a photograph at a yoga camp at Talwandi Sabo in Bathinda district with a photograph of the 10th guru of the Sikhs, Guru Gobind Singh, placed near his feet.

    Case against Ramdev for hurting religious sentiments of Sikhs

    In-Depth Narendra Modi Interview: I Am No Know-All Leader

    In-Depth Narendra Modi Interview: I Am No Know-All Leader
    Saying he was no know-all leader, BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi has disclosed that he relied a lot on "professionals and domain experts" in governance and believed that the "single-minded focus" on attacking him was what "brought a lot of support from the people of India to me".

    In-Depth Narendra Modi Interview: I Am No Know-All Leader

    Amethi won't forgive Modi for insulting my father: Priyanka

    Amethi won't forgive Modi for insulting my father: Priyanka
    Priyanka Gandhi Vadra Monday attacked BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi for his speech in Amethi, saying he had insulted her "martyred" father Rajiv Gandhi and people of the constituency will not forgive him for this.

    Amethi won't forgive Modi for insulting my father: Priyanka

    EC can inquire into paid news allegations, says SC

    EC can inquire into paid news allegations, says SC
    The Supreme Court Monday said that the Election Commission was empowered to inquire into the allegation of paid news if the expenses for the same are not being reflected in the election return filed by the candidate.

    EC can inquire into paid news allegations, says SC

    Modi invokes Lord Ram at Faizabad

    Modi invokes Lord Ram at Faizabad
    BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi Monday invoked the name of Lord Ram in an election speech and urged the people to vote out the "corrupt and incompetent Congress government at the centre".

    Modi invokes Lord Ram at Faizabad

    PrevNext