Gurmeet Singh Khuddian urges centre to provide ₹151 crore under RKVY to desilt agriculture land in border districts of Punjab
•Demands Rs 80cr to provide 2 Lakh quintal certified wheat seed to farmers for rabi season
•Participates in national conference on agriculture-rabi campaign 2025
Chandigarh/ New Delhi, September 16 (WISHAVWARTA):- Referring to the recent floods that damaged 5 Lakh acres under various crops in 2185 villages of the state, the Punjab Agriculture Minister S. Gurmeet Singh Khuddian today urged the Central government to provide additional financial assistance of Rs. 151 crore to the State under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) for restoration of land silted-up due to floods in border districts of Punjab.
While addressing the national conference on agriculture Rabi campaign 2025 held under the chairmanship of union agriculture minister Mr. Shivraj Singh Chauhan at PUSA Bhawan here today, Punjab Cabinet minister S.Kudian said that recent unprecedented floods have adversely affected large areas of cultivable land and caused heavy losses to the standing crops. Border districts of Punjab (Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Gurdaspur, Pathankot, Kapurthala, Fazilka and Ferozepur) are the worst affected and up to 5 feet of silt/sand has been deposited in the flood affected agricultural fields.
He said “The people of Punjab have always come forward with open hearts during the tough times in any part of the country, now the centre should extend its helping hand to pull out the state out of this critical situation.”
He emphasised that given the gravity of the situation, timely release of additional funds under DPR component of RKVY will not only help in compensating farmers for their losses but also ensure revival of the agricultural economy of the State.
He demanded that the centre should release Rs 80 crore to the state to provide 2Lakh quintal of certified wheat seed to the affected farmers under the seed village programme. He also demanded 25 Lakh for the wheat seed separately under national food security mission. S. Kudian also appealed the union agriculture minister to provide 637 quintals of certified mustard seeds and 375 quintal seeds of black gram to help the farmers.
Punjab agriculture minister S. Kudian urged the centre to ensure timely supply of DAP and Urea as per the requirement of the state so that the sowing of crops do not face further delay. He also sought the union agriculture ministers intervention to release Rs. 8,000 cr of RDF and other funds withheld by the centre. Union agriculture minister assured S. Khuddian that the centre will take all the necessary steps to help the state facing tough times due to floods.
