Promote diversification, agriculture officials told

Tribune News Service

Mansa, April 22

Dr Sutantar Kumar Airi, Director, Agriculture and Farmer Welfare Department, on Wednesday stressed the need to promote crop diversification and increase in area under cotton in Mansa district by 25 per cent.

He told the department officials that area under maize and basmati should also be increased.

Airi, while chairing a meeting with the officials regarding the plantation of kharif crops, directed the officials to work towards the promotion of crop diversification, keeping in mind the government guidelines regarding Covid crisis.

Dr Sutantar Kumar Airi told the officials that material of kharif crop, including seed, fertilisers and pesticides, should be provided to farmers well in time so that they should not face any problem.

Dr Sutantar Kumar Airi claimed that for the plantation of cotton there would be no shortage of canal water and power supply.

He also directed the officials to lay emphasis on direct sowing of paddy in the district as water level was continuously going down.

Mansa Chief Agricultural Officer (CAO) Dr Ram Sarup said he had directed all officials to provide technical information to farmers by making announcements from gurdwara and temples in villages.

The state government has already given shape to an ambitious plan for the diversification of crops. Setting aside Rs 200 crore for the purpose, the government has proposed to diversify 3 lakh hectares area, currently under paddy cultivation. The thrust, say officials, will be on promoting maize and basmati variety of crops, in place of water-guzzling paddy. Besides, the government is also promoting cultivation of cotton and pulses in southern part of the state.