Parkash Singh Badal urges farmers to opt for crop diversification

SEECHEWAL (JALANDHAR): Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today exhorted farmers to opt for crop diversification in a big way.

Addressing a gathering here, Badal said the state's ambitious crop diversification programme was aimed at supplementing income of farmers, especially the small and marginal ones, and check the alarming depletion of ground water due its over exploitation.

The Chief Minister pointed out that agriculture as a profession is now on the decline due to marginal profits.

Badal categorically asked farmers to refrain from growing paddy and shift to alternative crops like Basmati, maize, sugarcane, vegetables and fruits.

Cultivation of these crops is not only highly profitable, but is also less water intensive than paddy, he said adding that the state government has already urged the Centre to evolve a marketing mechanism for promotion of maize cultivation by announcing a Minimum Support Price.