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Hindustan Times
6 days ago
- Science
- Hindustan Times
Ludhiana: ‘Time for India's 16K agri scientists to step into fields'
The Union minister for agriculture and farmers welfare, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, on Thursday, urged India's 16,000 agricultural scientists to step out of laboratories and into fields, identifying real-world issues that merit research. The Union minister was the chief guest in a special ceremony organised at the Punjab Agricultural University (PAUs) Krishi Vigyan Kendra in Rauni village. The event was organised under the Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan, an initiative of the government of India, coinciding with World Environment Day. During the event, Chouhan hailed PAU's direct sowing tech as game-changer for natural resources. The Union minister was accompanied by Punjab agriculture minister Gurmeet Singh Khuddian and PAU VC Satbir Singh Gosal. The event aimed to bridge agriculture policies and innovations with the farming community, creating awareness of new technologies and government schemes. Chouhan expressed a deep emotional connection with Punjab, saluting its fertile land and hailing its farmers as the nation's food providers. He commended PAU's direct seeding technology for paddy as a 'Sanjeevani' (life-giving boon) for conserving natural resources, especially groundwater. Punjab agriculture minister Gurmeet Singh Khuddian described the event as a historic turning point for Indian agriculture, emphasising the wisdom inherent in farmers' practices and the need to learn from their environmental stewardship. He drew attention to Punjab's pivotal role in India's independence, food security, and defence, urging the Union minister to prioritise Punjab's agricultural concerns, particularly around stubble management and shifting the wheat-paddy cropping cycle. PAU vice-chancellor Satbir Singh Gosal described the Abhiyan as a key step in agricultural development, expressing commitment to delivering PAU and GADVASU innovations directly to villages. He invited farmers to share challenges and feedback to align research with ground realities.
Time of India
18-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
Tribute to Ludh's museum legacy
Ludhiana: Agriculture minister Gurmeet Singh Khuddian Sunday unveiled pictorial work highlighting the three significant museums of Ludhiana at Sutton House PAU here to mark International Museum Day . The district boasts of Museum of Social History of Rural Punjab , PAU depicting rural lifestyle, traditions, and tools intrinsic to Punjab's agrarian identity, Bassian Kothi near Raikot, a 200-year-old architectural marvel showcasing rare belongings of Maharaja Duleep Singh — the last Sikh ruler of Punjab, and Maharaja Ranjit Singh War Museum , Ludhiana preserving war history through its thematic galleries, antique weaponry, armoured vehicles, and vintage fighter aircraft. Chief secretary KAP Sinha, principal secretary (horticulture) Vikas, state information commissioner Harpreet Sandhu, PAU and Gadvasu vice-chancellors Satbir Singh Gosal and JS Gill respectively, were present on the occasion. This initiative has been undertaken by SIC Sandhu, who through his art work, aims to promote these museums and raise awareness about Punjab's glorious past among citizens of Ludhiana, especially the younger generation. Unveiling the pictorial visuals, chief secretary Sinha said the objective of International Museum Day is to create greater awareness about the importance of museums as a means of cultural exchange and development of mutual understanding on the heritage. Khuddian said the exquisite pictorial work crafted by Harpreet Sandhu offering a creative representation of the three significant museums of Ludhiana will inspire future generations to stay connected with their roots.
India Gazette
08-05-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
"BBMB chairman tried to release water to Haryana without Punjab's consent,", says CM Bhagwant Mann
Rupnagar (Punjab) [India], May 8 (ANI): Amid the ongoing water-sharing dispute between Haryana and Punjab, Chief Minister of Punjab Bhagwant Singh on Thursday accused the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) chairman of releasing water to Haryana without the government's consent and said that the BJP is taking 'anti-Punjab decisions.' 'BBMB is being used against Punjab to forcefully loot the water of Punjab. This morning, the BBMB chairman tried to release water to Haryana without Punjab's consent. We will not tolerate coercion of any kind. On one side, there is an atmosphere of war in the country; on the other side, the BJP is trying to rob the waters of Punjab by taking anti-Punjab decisions. We also know how to protect borders and also know how to protect our water,' Punjab Chief Minister said, addressing mediapersons in Rupnagar. He further said that the Punjab government is giving 4000 cusecs of water to Haryana on a humanitarian basis. 'But instead of thanking, decisions are being taken by holding BBMB meetings in an unconstitutional manner. Being a border state in war-like situations, instead of giving us relief, the BJP is creating a water crisis for us, due to which we are facing a double problem,' he added. Meanwhile, Punjab Minister Gurmeet Singh Khuddian asserted that both Haryana and Punjab are using water on the basis of need. 'Central Minister briefed the State Ministers on agriculture, particularly about promoting less water-intensive crops like fodder to conserve water... While some of these water-saving crops may slightly reduce productivity or income, the Central government must step in with compensation of Rs 17,000 per hectare... Cotton cultivation has also dropped to just one lakh hectares. Both states (Haryana and Punjab) are using water on the basis of the need,' Khuddian said. Punjab Minister Harjot Singh Bains demanded action against the BBMB Chairman and said that the Punjab is already giving plenty of water to Haryana. 'We are compelled to lock the gates. It is a matter of our water. We all know the situation facing the country, and Punjab being the border state, we are fighting for the country. Hundreds of our villages have been vacated; the whole state is on red alert. At a time like this, what emergency arose in Haryana that the BBMB Chairman comes early in the morning and asks that water be released into Haryana... We demand action against BBMB Chairman... All local leaders and people are sitting here on protest and we will continue till our CM does not arrive here and guides us on what to do next. On humanitarian grounds, we are already giving plenty of water to Haryana,' Bains said. Meanwhile, Punjab Congress President Amarinder Singh Raja Warring said that rather than going to Bhakra Nangal, the government should have approached the Supreme Court. 'Rather than going to Bhakra Nangal, we should have gone to the Supreme Court. If the Court has taken or is going to take any decision against us, we should have approached the court first... Whenever our Chairman was changed, we should have mentioned it before the court that the Chairman should represent those with a share of 60 per cent. Bhakra Beas Management Board is working at the behest of the Central government and it is unfair to us. We should have fought the government, protested outside the residence of the Prime Minister and the Home Minister, but we protested here at Nangal,' Warring said. Reacting to the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) water row between Punjab and Haryana, DIG Ropar Range, Harcharan Singh Bhullar said that strict action will be taken if anyone takes law and order into their hands. 'The Chairman said he would head to Chandigarh for a meeting with the CM. If anyone takes law and order into their hands, we will take strict action,' DIG said. Punjab has reaffirmed its commitment to its voluntary allocation while firmly refusing Haryana's latest request for 8,500 cusecs from the Bhakra Beas system, arguing that the cited emergency has ended. Earlier on May 3, an all-party meeting was held under the chairmanship of Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini regarding the ongoing water sharing dispute between Haryana and Punjab, in which a resolution was unanimously passed in the meeting urging the Punjab government to implement, without conditions, the decisions of the BBMB technical committee. On April 30, the BBMB ordered an additional 8,500 cusecs of water to be released to Haryana from the Bhakra-Nangal Dam. However, the Punjab government rejected the BBMB's decisions, raising concerns over decreasing water levels in key reservoirs. (ANI)
Time of India
21-04-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Subsidy on Bt cotton seeds to bring more area under cultivation: PAU V-C
Ludhiana: While the Punjab govt has offered a 33 per cent subsidy on Bt cotton seeds recommended by Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) in an effort to promote crop diversification , the subsidy will only apply to PAU-recommended varieties. Agriculture minister Gurmeet Singh Khuddian has allocated Rs 20 crore for this initiative. Commenting on the move, PAU vice-chancellor Satbir Singh Gosal said the measure would help bring more area under cotton cultivation. He added that the subsidy would encourage farmers to purchase the university-recommended seeds, which have higher resistance to pests and diseases. It is noteworthy that the area under cotton cultivation in Punjab has declined significantly — from about 7.58 lakh hectares in 1988–89 to less than 1 lakh hectares currently. Multiple factors have contributed to this decline, including pest infestations. In contrast, rice, for which a minimum support price (MSP) has been fixed, is less prone to pests and diseases, making it a more attractive option for farmers. "Subsidy helps," Gosal noted, "especially since pure seeds result in higher yield, which benefits the farmers." Another key reason for the shift away from cotton is the absence of an assured MSP. "Cotton is mainly procured by the Cotton Corporation of India. If farmers are assured of support in the procurement process, they will be more inclined to grow cotton," Gosal said. He further emphasised that the Cotton Corporation of India should declare a price assurance before the sowing season to build farmer confidence and encourage cotton cultivation. He pointed out that pink bollworm has been a major pest impacting cotton crops over the past four to five years, discouraging many farmers. Other serious threats include the cotton leaf curl virus and whitefly infestation. States such as Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Gujarat face similar pest-related challenges. Gosal also mentioned that earlier, American bollworm was a major threat, but the introduction of Bt cotton in 2002, which was resistant to it, had initially provided relief to farmers.
