The prolonged dry spell and insufficient rainfall has affected agriculture crops over 3,63,120 hectare in the State and the crop loss was more than 50 per cent in 2,65,103 hectare area.
Stacked in the open exposed to the vagaries of climate, more than 8 million metric tonnes of wheat procured by five government procurement agencies have been rotting in various places in Punjab. The grains, stored by the Food Corporation of India (FCI) and the state government, have been packed in plastic bags on open and unhygienic plinths as well as in rented fields.
The adverse impact of a deficient monsoon over kharif crop appears to be growing with the sowing of paddy lagging behind by over 65 lakh hectares as compared to the last year. This has forced Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar to acknowledge the prospects of a
After slipping into the league of least-growing states in agriculture, Punjab has made a turnaround in the last two years with the advance estimates for 2008-09 putting the state's growth rate at 5.08 per cent.
The government is pushing ahead with its 'aam aadmi' campaign with the President I promising a National Food Security Act. Providing food to the poor is inherent to effectively combating poverty and, therefore, I feel the intention of the government is laudable.
United Nations Thursday mentioned to heavy losses to agriculture and crops following the operation in troubled areas of North West Frontier Province, to flush out extremists.
