CHANDIGARH--    Punjab Government has launched much needed agriculture diversification mission to conserve its depleting ground water and ensure remunerative price to the farmers for alternative crops.Disclosing this here today Chief Parliamentary Secretary, Agriculture, Mr. Gurbachan Singh Babehali said that out of 28-lakh hectare area currently under paddy, 12-lakh hectare to be shifted to alternative crops like maize, sugarcane, cotton, pulses, fruits and vegetables besides Agro Forestry in next five years.

e said that Punjab Government provided 70% subsidy on the agricultural infrastructure to the farmers for adopting drip irrigation, water tanks, solar water pumps and solar connections. He said that state-of-the-art Borlaug Institute for South Asia was being established to develop new varieties of Wheat, Cotton and Maize crop through research at Laddowal, Ludhiana. Amount of Rs. 500 crores has already reserved for this Institute.

Mr. Babehalli said that 50% subsidy on seeds, insecticides, pesticides, machinery and other input materials to boost the cultivation of alternative crops. Punjab Government has enhanced the budget for PAU to Rs. 300 crore for the year 2013-14 from Rs.190 crore of 2012-13 to carry out extensive research and development.

Mr. Babehalli said that Punjab has won “Krishi Karman Award” (GoI’s award) for record production of food grains during 2010-11. He said that fives citrus estates at Abohar,Tahliwala-Jattan, Bhunga, Badal, Hoshiarpur were established at a cost of Rs. 5 crore to promote the disease free varieties of citrus. Litchi and Pear estate to come up at Pathankot and Amritsar respectively at a cost of Rs 3.80 crore each.