45 DAYS DAIRY TECHNOLOGY DIPLOMA STARTS FROM AUG 16

          With a view to providing update knowledge of commercial diary farming to the youth, the Punjab Government has decided to start from AUG 16, 2011 (45 days) new dairy technology course at seven centers in Punjab.

Disclosing this here today, Mr. Gulzar Singh Ranike, Animal Husbandry, Fisheries and Dairy Development Minister Punjab said that this training would be provided at Chattamali (Ropar), Bijja (Ludhiana), Tarn Taran, Phagwara (Kapurthala), Abdul Khurana  (Mukatsar), Gill Kalan (Moga) and  Verka (Amrtisar).

                   The State Diary Development department would provide new techniques for dairy farming, better shed design and cattle feed to the milk producers to increase the milk production in the state.            

                   The Minister further said that anybody above the age of 18 to 45 undertake this training at their nearest training centre. All matriculate or above qualified persons are eligible for this training and should have own five milk animals farm. Walk in interview-cum-selection will be held for this training at all diary training center on August 08, 2011 at 10:00AM. For more information in this regard can be had from telephone no. 0172-2700228.

REVIEW CAP ON COTTON EXPORTS AND ALLOW ADDITIONAL EXPORTS OF 1 MILLION BALES- BADAL WRITES TO PM

            Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today sought the personal intervention of Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh urging him to review the cap on the exports of cotton besides allowing additional exports of about one million bales to ensure remunerative price to the cotton growers for their produce during the ensuing Kharif Marketing Season 2011.

            In a letter to the Prime Minister, Mr. Badal apprised him that Punjab is one of the major cotton producing states of the country and it produces about 20 lakh bales of cotton annually. As per estimates of the Cotton Advisory Board of India, the total cotton production in the country during 2010-11 is likely to be 339.3 lakh bales while the domestic consumption of cotton is estimated to be 240 lakh bales. Hence as per current scenario there is surplus of cotton in the country. The union government had imposed a quantitative restriction on cotton exports in October, 2010 when prices of the natural fiber had shot up.  The government allowed export of only 6.5 million bales of cotton during 2010-11 seasons to protect domestic textiles industry in the wake of rising prices of the raw material.

            The Chief Minister also informed Dr. Manmohan Singh that the restrictions on cotton exports led to softening of cotton prices which have been sharply criticized by farmers' organizations of cotton producing states. During kharif 2010, prices of cotton remained firm and consequently, the area under cotton during current kharif season increased. 

            Mr. Badal also pointed out that the production of cotton in the country is likely to increase. The International Cotton Advisory Committee has estimated that global cotton production could reach 27.3 million tonnes by 2012 due to improving prices. In light of these facts, he impressed upon the Prime Minister to immediately review the restrictions imposed on the exports of cotton and permitting additional exports of about one million bales to the cotton growers during the current kharif marketing season.

BONANZA FOR PUNJAB FARMERS AS PUNJAB APPROVES 75,000 TUBE WELL CONNECTIONS

       The farmers of Punjab received a great bonanza from SAD-BJP government as Punjab State Power Corporation Limited approved new Agriculture Pumpset policy sanctioning 75,000 new Agriculture Pumpsets, meeting their long pending demand.

           Disclosing this here today Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal, Deputy Chief Minister,  said that in a major step to clear the backlog of tube well connections under the new policy 25,000 connections would be released in General Scheme whereas 50,000 additional connections would be released in Accelerated Release of Tube Well Connections (ARTC) scheme.  He said that till date the SAD-BJP government has released 182589 tube well connections during last four years and with the release of 75,000 connections, 257589 connections would be released in the tenure of this government that would be the highest number of connections released by any government in its tenure. Mr. Badal said that the release of 75000 connections in a single year would be the largest number of connections released by any government during single calendar year. The Spokesman said that presently there were 14 lakh tube well connections installed in the state, out of which 1143267 connections were operated with Power connections.

           Giving out the details of the scheme, Mr. Badal said that over 15,000 connections would be released to the General Category whereas 7500 connections would be provided to priority categories and 45,000 connections would be release under ARTC scheme.

           Emphasising on giving priority to the small and marginal farmers, Mr. Badal clarified that the applicants with land holding up to 5 acre would be given 30% connections whereas other 30% would be given to those having land above 5 acres and remaining 30% would be given to priority categories including Martyrs of Kargil War, Operation Rakshak, J&K Insurgency, Gallantry Awardees, Scheduled Castes, Oustees, Ex-Servicemen, Kandi areas etc. He said that apart from these 75000 numbers additional AP Connections have also been planned for Sem Area, Drip/Micro Sprinkler System, Gram Panchayat, Religious Institutions, Gaushalas, Harijan Farmers Co-operative Society without cut- off date. It would be over and above the fixed annual target of 2011-12.

           Mr. Badal said that the eligible AP Applicants would be allotted connections as per seniority and normal service connections charges @ Rs 3600 per BHP would be charged from the general category consumers. He clarified that however those seeking out of turn release of connections/load/demand will pay actual cost of release of connections or PSERC prescribed per BHP/KW/KVA service connection charges, whichever is higher. 

          Mr. Badal said that this scheme may be opened upto 31.12.1992  first having pending application 61116 Nos. for two weeks and if the response is less than target, it will be extended upto 31.12.1994 having total pending applications 90817 for another two weeks and still short of target, we may extend it upto 31.12.1996 having total pending applications 108705 for another two weeks. The scheme may close within six weeks from its start to enable timely floating of tenders etc. He said that the applications/ option under proposed ARTC scheme shall be available to applicants already registered under General Category & pending for issue of Demand Notice. He added that the connections under ARTC shall be released on turnkey basis through open tender process or departmentally. The material conforming to standard specification of PSPCL will be purchased/ procured by the Contractors from approved suppliers of PSPCL and the release of Tubewell connections under the policy shall commence after July/Aug. 2011.

Mini Zoo being setup in the CM's residence

Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal inspecting the newly
introduced emo bird at Mini Zoo being setup in the CM's residence at
Chandigarh

PUNJAB SET TO BOOST CULTIVATION OF SUNFLOWER

The Punjab government has decided to increase the area under cultivation of oil seed crops with special emphasis on increasing production of Sunflower. To achieve this target, it today announced liberal subsidies for exhibition plots, agri- implements and weedicides.

Disclosing this here today, Punjab Agriculture Minister Mr. Sucha Singh Langah said that the State government would provide subsidy for agri- implements used in cultivation of Sunflower besides on weedicides being used for this purpose. He informed that it has decided to set up 80 exhibition plots measuring 5 hectares each throughout the State and the farmers would be provided subsidy of Rs.2500/-per hectare and Rs. 12,500/-for each exhibition plot of 5 hectares. He said that in the first phase it has been decided to set up these plots in Fatehgarh Sahib, Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur, Patiala, SBS Nagar, Ludhiana, Tarn Taran, Kapurthala, SAS Nagar and Rupnagar districts.

He said that during the year 2011-12 the area under cultivation of Sunflower was expected to increase to 25,000 acres and the production to touch 44.5 thousand metric tones. In the previous year i.e. 2010-11, the area under cultivation of Sunflower was 14.4 thousand acres and production was 25.6 thousand metric tones.

He said that the State government was providing subsidy under ICOPAM scheme and the farmers could also avail it for groundnuts and mustard also.

PUNJAB SETS TARGET TO PLANT FRUIT SAPLINGS ON 4000 HECTARES OF LAND

CHANDIGARH, JULY 24:

The Horticulture Department of Punjab Government with the beginning of the rainy season starting from the second fortnight of July has set a target to plant fruit saplings on 4000 hectares of land in the state. The state government has also decided to provide a subsidy of 75% in three phases with the ratio of 60:20:20 to the farmers under this Special Scheme.

Disclosing this here today Mr. Sucha Singh Langah, Punjab Agriculture Minister said that the Horticulture Department has made all preparations to achieve the set target and has also initiated awareness campaign in this regard. He said that after plantation of these fruit saplings the total area covered under this scheme would reach upto 74,000 hectares of land in Punjab. He said that leaving apart the Banana fruit all other fruit saplings including Guava, Kinnos, Peach and Pear would be given a maximum subsidy of 75% per hectare of the total cost in three phases.

Mr. Langah said that for plantation of Banana saplings 50% subsidy of the total cost would be given in two years in two phases including 75% in first phase and 25% in the second phase. While the subsidy on Guave, Kinno, Peach and Pear would be given in three instalments.  He said that the maximum subsidy would be provided on four hectares of land for the purpose of plantation, pesticides, manures, draft preparation and to protect the saplings from seasonal heat and cold.

The Agriculture Minister said that the Department was doing its level best to increase the area under fruit cultivation every year. He said that the Horticulture Department has engaged 23 government and 53 private registered nurseries to prepare perfect and disease free fruit saplings for distributing amongst farmers in Punjab for plantation and to supply the saplings to other states. He said that the Horticulture Department had planted the evergreen saplings of Mango, Guava, Lichi, Kinno, Plums, Papaya, Pomegranate, Banana and seasonal fruits including Grapes, Peach and Pear on 4476 and 4083 hectares of land respectively in the year 2009-10 and 2010-11.

He further said that Department is successfully running six Fruit Protection Laboratories at Patiala, Hoshiarpur, Abohar, Jalandhar, Amritsar and Ludhiana, where seeds are prepared and sold to the farmers on reasonable rates along with imparting training amongst them