Will leave no stone unturned to increase maize production: Chauhan
The Sunday Mail
Ludhiana (Punjab)/New Delhi, with the theme “From Maize to Prosperity,” Union Agriculture, Farmers Welfare and Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan today inaugurated the administrative-cum-laboratory building of the Indian Maize Research Institute (IIMR) in Ludhiana (Punjab). He also interacted with maize-producing farmers, beneficiaries of the Union Ministry of Rural Development’s schemes, and women self-help groups. Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Bhagirath Chaudhary, Union Minister of State for Railways and Food Processing Ravneet Singh Bittu, Punjab Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian, along with other regional public representatives, scientists, and officials were present on the occasion.
Chouhan said that the land of Punjab provides the taste of maize bread and mustard greens. Now, this holy land will also taste the new flavor of prosperity through modern agricultural science. In this spirit, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan inaugurated the newly constructed administrative building of the Indian Maize Research Institute in Ludhiana. He stated that to increase maize production and make our maize a global phenomenon, we are developing new, improved, and highly productive maize varieties. He stated that he will leave no stone unturned to further increase maize production.
Shivraj Singh stated that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, our primary goals are to increase food grain production in the country, reduce production costs, and increase farmers’ income. While we are completely self-sufficient in wheat and rice cultivation, diversifying agriculture is crucial. After wheat and rice, maize is the third largest crop, which can be used for many other purposes besides food. He stated that only maize can compete with rice, saving water and providing greater profits to farmers. In this regard, the Maize Research Institute is crucial because the research being conducted here is proving to be very helpful in increasing maize production.
Union Minister Chauhan stated that his mission is to serve the people, not politics. The central government has released ₹74 crore for the free supply of wheat seeds to compensate for crop losses in Punjab, and funds have also been approved for other seeds, including mustard. An advance of ₹222 crore has been deposited into the accounts of 11.09 lakh farmers in Punjab under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi. Assistance will be sent from the MIDH scheme to compensate for losses in the horticulture sector. Shivraj Singh Chouhan stated that the central government is always ready to assist Punjab. The Prime Minister is concerned about the damage caused by the floods in Punjab and has provided a package of ₹1,600 crore to help flood-affected families get their lives back on track.
Union Minister Shri Chauhan has approved ₹1.60 lakh per family for the reconstruction of 36,703 flood-damaged houses in Punjab, of which ₹1.20 lakh is for house construction and ₹40,000 for labor and toilet construction. He stated that our effort should be to purchase only products manufactured in our country. This will benefit local artisans, keep the country’s money in the country, and make the country economically more prosperous. We need to strengthen our country’s economy, so we should only buy indigenous products made in our country. Shivraj Singh Chouhan repeatedly paid obeisance to the land of Punjab, saying that whenever the country’s enemies attacked, Punjab was the first to bear the brunt of the attack. Punjab has always been the one to protect the country’s borders, and if anyone has ever chanted “Jai Jawan,” it has always been Jai Kisan. There was a time when people ate American wheat at PL 480. There were no abundant crops, and the country had to import it from abroad. We once had a Prime Minister who advised them to abstain from eating for one day a week, observe a fast, because there wasn’t much food available at that time. However, the landowners and farmer brothers and sisters of Punjab filled the country’s food reserves. The agricultural revolution took place later in the country. Punjab was the first to initiate the agricultural revolution. The landowners of Punjab worked day and night, toiling hard. Agriculture is the backbone of the Indian economy and farmers are its soul and Punjab is the lifeblood of the country’s agriculture.
