THE NEWS FREEDOM
CHANDIGARH, MARCH 5
Punjab’s Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister, Gurmeet Singh Khudian, lauded the Budget 2024-25, presented by Finance Minister Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha today, describing it as visionary and futuristic. Khudian expressed confidence that the budget would provide further impetus to the agriculture and allied sectors. The Punjab government has allocated Rs 13,784 crore for agriculture and allied sectors in the budget, marking a 12.74% increase compared to last year’s allocation of Rs. 12,027.70 crore. To sustain free power for agriculture tube-wells in FY 2024-25, Rs 9,330 crore has been earmarked for power subsidy, stated the Agriculture Minister.
Emphasizing the government’s commitment to the welfare of the state’s “Annadatas,” Khudian highlighted the proposed allocation of Rs 575 crore for various Crop Diversification Schemes aimed at encouraging farmers to transition from the two-crop cycle to improve agriculture, soil health, and arrest the decline in the groundwater table. In the current year, a special initiative named “Mission Unnat Kisan” has been launched to provide timely technical information to farmers for proper cotton cultivation, along with providing a 33% subsidy on cotton seeds to approximately 87,000 farmers.
Furthermore, the state government has bolstered veterinary services by appointing 326 veterinary officers and 535 veterinary inspectors during FY 2022-23 and FY 2023-24 to enhance specialized veterinary services at the grassroots level. Additionally, a new fish seed farm has been established at village Killian Wali in Fazilka, bringing 3,233 acres under fish culture. Under a river ranching program, 3 lakh fish seeds have been stocked in river bodies, Khudian added.