CHANDIGARH: Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Wednesday said the state was ready for diversification of agriculture in a big way, after ushering in an era of green revolution in the mid 1960s.

Speaking after the signing of an agreement between Punjab Agro Industries Corporation (PAIC) and Escorts Ltd to undertake contract farming in an area of 50,000 acres, primarily for the crops of basmati, oil seeds and durum wheat in kharif and rabi of 2003-04, Singh said the state's agriculture enjoyed an enviable position among states in, yield per hectare, irrigation intensity, consumption of fertilizers and power.

Punjab alone contributed about 50 per cent of wheat and 40 per cent of paddy to the central pool of the country, he said.

The Chief Minister said that contract farming was the only solution to the numerous problems confronted by the agricultural economy of the state, including excessive foodgrains production with added costs on handling, bagging, transport and storage besides declining water table at an alarming rate of one foot per annum.

He said contract farming had evoked an encouraging response especially from the small and marginal farmers in Punjab.

Punjab Agro Food Corporation (PAFC) would bring 25 lakh acres about one-fourth of the total cultivable land in the state under contract farming by 2007, he said.

PTI[ WEDNESDAY, APRIL 09, 2003 06:15:04 PM ]