Punjab CM seeks roll back of restrictions on export of basmati imposed by Union Government

Ludhiana, September 15, 2023: Lamenting that the restrictions on export of basmati imposed by the Union government is against the interests of the farmers, the Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Friday demanded immediate roll back of this arbitrary decision.

Addressing the gathering during Kisan Mela organised here at the Punjab Agriculture University, the Chief Minister bemoaned that this illogical decision will do considerable damage to the economic situation of the farmers as well as the traders. He said that the Union government has fixed Minimum Export Price of the Basmati at $ 1200 per ton which adversely hit the domestic price of the crop. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the union government must remove all these restrictions to safeguard the interests of the farmers from the state.

The Chief Minister said that the hard working and resilient farmers of the state are already at a crossroads due to the ever escalating cost of the farm inputs and low MSP. He said that the state produces maximum basmati in the country and this decision of the Centre will adversely hit the interests of the peasants of the state. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that on one hand the state government is making concerted efforts for crop diversification by encouraging the farmers to produce Moong, Basmati and other alternative crops but on the other these dastardly steps of the Union government are giving major setbacks to it.  

The Chief Minister said that this decision of the Union government is anti-farmer and anti-state adding that the state government will vehemently oppose this move. He said that in wake of these restrictions the state government is contemplating to sell the basmati crop to states like Kerala, West Bengal and others. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the farmers of the state had played a vanguard role in making the country self reliant in food production but such draconian moves of the Union government is against their interests.

The Chief Minister slammed the Union government for stalling Rural Development Fund (RDF) to target its opponents. He said that despite the fact that the state government has removed all the ambiguities done by the previous governments, the centre has not released the funds yet. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that he had himself called on the Union Rural Development Minister who had assured him that these funds will be released soon but it never happened and the Union government has stalled the RDF of the state worth more than Rs 3622 crore.

The Chief Minister said that in order to cope up with the problem of paddy straw burning the state government had mooted the idea of compensating the farmers by giving them Rs 2500 per acre. He said that out of these Rs 2500, Rs 1500 was to be given by the centre government and Rs 1000 was to be shared by the state government. However, Bhagwant Singh Mann said that instead of agreeing to this demand, the Union government rejected it without any logic.

Reiterating the firm commitment of his government to ensure canal water at the tail end of the last field in the state, the Chief Minister said that the state government is duty bound for this noble cause. He said already due to strenuous efforts of the state government water has reached the far flung areas of Fazilka districts. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the state government is taking massive steps for optimum utilisation of the canal water to save the groundwater but at present Punjab is using only 33%-34% of its canal water adding that this will be enhanced in the coming days.

The Chief Minister said that corruption is the root cause of every social malady due to which the state government has adopted a zero tolerance policy towards this. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the state government is committed for providing a transparent, effective and responsive administration to the people for which no stone is being left unturned. He said that massive efforts have been made to eradicate corruption from the state especially from the Revenue department.

The Chief Minister said that it is overwhelming to note that a large number of youth are showing their keen interest in the Kisan Melas. He said that it is on record that 1.09 lakh farmers have participated in the Kisan Mela on the first day. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that introduction of technology in agriculture will help in transforming the destiny of the farmers and agriculture.

The Chief Minister also lauded the role of Punjab Agriculture University in heralding an era of green revolution in the country. He said that this premier institute is a lighthouse of new and extensive research in the field of agriculture which is immensely beneficial for the farmers. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that every Punjabi is proud of the immense contribution of this university in the agriculture and allied sector.

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PAU KISAN MELA CONCLUDES ON A HIGH NOTE TUBEWELLS TO BE CUT BY 70 PER CENT NEXT YEAR: PUNJAB CM

Ludhiana: The Chief Minister of Punjab Bhagwant Mann assured of cutting tubewells by 70 per cent till the next year to save water-deficit Punjab. He was speaking at the concluding function of the Kisan Mela at the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) today. Delighted to see the ineffable response to the mela, the Punjab CM remarked: “Kheti (agriculture) has been aan, baan ate shaan (honour, pride and glory) of Punjab; and PAU and its Kisan Melas have been dear to Punjab farmers. Kisaani (Farming) is very close to my heart. This University is not new for me, I have been coming to the melas with my Uncle (Tayaji), as an artist and now as CM.” Mann was highly elated to see the keen participation of the young farmers, carrying seed bags on their shoulders and holding booklets in their hands, in the mela. “No doubt, our ancestors toiled very hard to make unproductive productive, but agriculture in the present times is undergoing a drastic change with the evolvement of new techniques ranging from sowing to spraying to harvesting. There is a need to update the agriculture,” he stressed.

Disclosing that the Punjab government specifically banned 10 sprays as per the international standards for the pesticide-free basmati production for export, the Punjab CM lambasted the Central government for setting a minimum export price (MEP) of $1,200 a tonne on basmati rice shipments.

Besides, Mann attacked the Union government for not disbursing the Rural Development Fund of 4,000 crore, which if given would be spent on road construction of 67,000 km, he ensured.

“About 85 per cent of Punjabis are getting free electricity in the state with no-bills,” he said, while highlighting the uninterrupted power supply to the farmers and industrialists during the paddy season this year. The non-functional coal mines in Jharkhand were made functional in October last year by the Punjab government, he disclosed, saying that this has resulted in enhanced power generation. The State government has also supplied water to 35-year old water-scarce Punjab villages during the current year, he added.

Mann criticized the Food Corporation of India for refusing to purchase Punjab’s paddy, which has been produced at the cost of the overuse of water, and said that it would have been better for Punjab to contribute water than paddy. “Punjab di Kisaani di rakhi karan lai (To protect Punjab’s agriculture), we have to fight for Rs 1 also,” he stated, while informing about the setting up of food processing plants in the state to double the income of the farmers.

Referring to the issue of Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL), the Punjab CM was bold enough to declare that Punjab was not having water in Sutlej, which has become a nallah at present. Rather, he suggested Yamuna-Sutlej Link (YSL) for the release of water to the Punjab via Karnal, as it was through Yamuna only, that the water was being supplied to Bangladesh.

“A total of 664 Aam Aadmi Clinics have been set up in Punjab and Schools of Eminence are also coming up,” he informed, while remarking that he has been very careful during signing of the files and signs only those files which benefitted Punjab, not others. About the recent issue of Patwaris, he said that the State government has appointed 710 Patwaris and that 586 posts would be advertised soon. But in a stern message to Patwaris, he stated: “Neither you will give, nor you will take. Corruption won’t be tolerated in the state.”

Mann entertained the participating farmers with his wit and humour as well as anecdotes which he shared while referring to motivation for paddy straw management using slogans and coal purchase for Punjab via Sri Lanka as asked by the Central government; favouring one business tycoon ‘Ek desh, ek dost (One nation, one friend);’ and previous government’s lust for transport and other businesses.

In his welcome address, Dr Satbir Singh Gosal, Vice-Chancellor, said that PAU has achieved great milestones during its 60 years of magnificent service to the farming community. “With its 1.5 per cent of geographical area, Punjab contributed 51 per cent of wheat to the central pool in 2022,” he divulged, while lauding the tenacious efforts of the state farmers in filling the nation’s food kitty. Pointing out the issues of water depletion and climate change, Dr Gosal called for the support of the World Bank to tackle the emerging problems in agriculture.

At the mela, five progressive farmers were felicitated for their significant contributions to agriculture and allied occupations. Sardar Paramjit Singh of village Bukan Wekhey Nagar (Bahman Wala), district Faridkot, was awarded “Parvasi Bharti Award,” while Sardar Amrit Singh of village Dhaneta, district Patiala, was conferred with “Sardar Ujjagar Singh Dhaliwal Memorial Award.” Sardar Narinder Singh Tiwana of village Ditupur of tehsil Nabha, district Patiala, was presented “Sardar Dalip Singh Dhaliwal Memorial Award,” whereas Sardar Sukhpal Singh of village Mauje Khurd, district Mansa, was feted with “Sardar Surjit Singh Dhillon Award.” Bibi Gurbir Kaur of village Jhandewala, Budh Singh Wala, district Moga, received “Sardarni Jagbir Kaur Memorial Award.”
Sardar Gurmeet Singh Khuddian, Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Punjab; KAP Sinha, Financial Commissioner (Revenue), Punjab; and Dr Inderjeet Singh, Vice-Chancellor, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana, also graced the occasion.

Dr GS Buttar, Director of Extension Education, was also honored for his outstanding contribution to the transfer of technologies to the farmers’ fields. Later, PAU VC honoured Punjab CM and State Agriculture Minister with mementos and shawls.

Dr TS Riar, Additional Director Communication, proposed a vote of thanks. Cloudy sky, gusty winds, foggy weather and downpour failed to deter the spirits of the Punjab farmers who made the Kisan Mela a mega success with their whole-hearted participation.