Pushes for diversification

Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, July 30 

Pushing forward his agenda for crop diversification to end the vicious wheat-paddy cycle and save the depleting groundwater in the state, Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Tuesday asked the State Planning Board to chalk out a comprehensive crop diversification model.

The board has also been directed to undertake a detailed review of the various schemes of the Agriculture Department to bring in the much-needed reforms in the sector. 

Chairing an interactive session with the members of the board constituted to suggest measures to initiate changes in the agriculture pattern, Capt Amarinder also directed the Planning Department to set up a centralised data analysis and monitoring division for collation of data related to various agricultural schemes in the state. 

‘Grow cotton, maize’ 

• Expressing concern over the fast depleting water table, CM Capt Amarinder Singh underlined the need to prioritise less water-consuming crops, beginning with maize, cotton and sugarcane
• He asked the State Planning Board to come up with a strategy to persuade farmers to shift to these crops from wheat and paddy

.