Jalandhar: Laying stress on setting up more ultra modern Centers of Excellence for undertaking Research and Design (R&D) to promote agriculture diversification in state, Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today said that these were the ‘Temples of Second Green Revolution’ which were required for bailing out the farmers from current agrarian crisis.
Addressing the gathering after inaugurating the Centre of Excellence for Vegetable (CEV) here today, the Chief Minister said that it was a historic day for the entire Punjab as a new chapter for the growth and prosperity of the state has been initiated. He said that though the farmers of the state had played a vanguard role in making the country self reliant in food production but due to the wrong policies of the Union government they were on the verge of economic disaster. Mr. Badal said that the massive hike in cost of agricultural inputs coupled with the non remunerative MSP has broken the backbone of the farmers due to which there was dire need for adopting crop diversification in state.
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The Chief Minister said that in the current scenario these Centers of Excellence would play a vanguard role not only in saving the already exhausted natural resources of the state but would also be instrumental in ensuring the all-round development of the state and prosperity of its farmers. He said that the ultra modern techniques used in such centers would acquaint the farmers with the global technology being used in the field of agriculture so as to update their expertise for making sure that they reap maximum profits from the diversification of agriculture. Mr. Badal said that the state government was leaving no stone unturned to ensure that more and more such centers were opened in the state for the larger interests of the farmers adding that special thrust was being laid on promoting the cultivation of vegetables and citrus fruits through them.
Recalling the strong ties between Israel and Punjab, the Chief Minister said that both Israel andPunjab shared a strong bond of making supreme sacrifices for safeguarding their motherland. He exhorted the Ambassador of Israel Mr. Alon Ushpiz to support the state government for opening more such centers in Punjab so that the farmers could be benefited from it. Mr. Badal said that opening of more such centers in the state would further strengthen the bonds between Israel and Punjab.
The Chief Minister also called upon the farmers of the state to adopt crop diversification not only to enhance their income but to ensure sustainable growth of the state. He said that it was the high time that the farmers must come out of the rut of wheat-paddy rotation, which were not only less remunerative but also required extensive water. Mr. Badal said that the state government has already embarked a major initiative to promote crop diversification adding that farmers must take benefit of it by adopting the cultivation of Maize, Soybean, vegetables and fruits to reap more profits from them.
On a question regarding the possible merger of PPP led by Mr. Manpreet Singh Badal with the Aam Aadmi Party, the Chief Minister said that it would hardly have any impact in the state. He said that the credibility of Mr. Arvind Kejriwal as the Chief Minister of Delhi would be seen in future adding that it was too early to comment on this issue at this stage.
Replying to a query regarding the heavy security cover provided to the Chief Ministers and Ministers in the country, the Chief Minister said that the security cover of the VVIPs was determined by Union government and the state governments hardly have any role in curtailing or increasing them. He said that the central security agencies regularly monitor the threat perception to the VVIPs and likewise the security cover was fixed according to the need. However, Mr. Badal refused to comment on the refusal of Z plus security by AAP leader Mr. Arvind Kejriwal.
The Chief Minister was accompanied by Cabinet Minister Mr. Sarwan Singh Phillaur, MLA Mr. Gurpartap Singh Wadala, his Special Principal Secretary Mr. Gurkirat Kirpal Singh, Secretary Agriculture Mr. Kahan Singh Pannu, Mission Director National Horticulture Mission Mr. Sanjeev Chopra, Commissioner Jalandhar Division Mr. R. Venkatratnam, Deputy Commissioner Mr. Varun Roojam, Director Agriculture Dr. Mangal Singh and Director Horticulture Mission, Punjab Dr. Gurkanwal Singh.