Village heads meet to promote kharif maize cultivation

In a bid to promote sustainable agriculture and conserve depleting groundwater levels, a district-level meeting of sarpanches and progressive farmers was held on Tuesday at Virasat Vihar, Kapurthala, under the Kharif Maize Pilot Project. The initiative is being jointly implemented by the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and the Department of Rural Development and Panchayats, Punjab.

Addressing the gathering, Additional Deputy Commissioner (Rural Development) Varinderpal Singh Bajwa urged the village heads and farmers to bring at least 10–15% of panchayati land under maize cultivation during the Kharif season. He emphasised that reducing paddy acreage and shifting to maize can help mitigate the alarming decline in underground water levels.

Chief Agriculture Officer Dr HPS Bharoth informed that under this pilot project, the Punjab Government will provide financial assistance of Rs 17,500 per hectare to farmers who opt for maize cultivation. He called upon the farmers to avail this opportunity and support the state’s efforts in sustainable farming.

Agriculture Officer (Nadala), Dr Satnam Singh, gave a detailed briefing on the registration process for certified maize seeds during the sowing season. Meanwhile, Dr Jaspal Singh, Agriculture Development Officer from Sultanpur Lodhi, shared valuable insights regarding best practices for maize cultivation.

The session also featured expert talks from Punjab Agricultural University. Crop scientist Dr Mandeep Singh highlighted key techniques for optimal maize production, while Dr Suman Jolly discussed effective strategies for pest and disease management in maize crops. Also present at the event were District Development and Panchayat Officer Satish Kumar, BDPOs from various blocks, and several farmer mentors and representatives from across the district.