The government plans to revive cultivation of crops that make Punjab’s iconic “makki ki roti and sarson ka saag” -- maize and mustard --along with horticulture and fodder to breathe life into the s

PUNE: The state government has drafted a plan to produce 80,000 quintal seeds for coming monsoon. The state cabinet has cleared the plan and the instructions have been issued to regional offices.

The seeds of jowar, bajra, rice, wheat other cereals and oily seeds are part of the project. The farmers, who would join the programme and produce seeds at their farm will get assured purchase price of Rs 500 per quintal. The state has so far sanctioned Rs 4 crore for it.

The Union Budget sought to consolidate the "remarkable progress" achieved in government's efforts to extend green revolution to eastern India by deciding to continue with the Rs 1,000-crore support

The message to the original Green Revolution states - Punjab and Haryana - in the Budget is loud and clear that they will have to seriously start exploring options beyond paddy and wheat, primarily

Interest subvention scheme to include private sector commercial banks

Acknowledging that the large farming community had delivered despite difficult conditions, Finance Minister P Chidambaram said it was due to them that agriculture had continued to perform well. "The average annual growth rate of agriculture and allied sectors during the 11th Plan (2007-12) was 3.6 per cent against 2.5 per cent and 2.4 per cent in the 9th and 10th Plans, respectively. In 2012-13, total foodgrain production will be over 250 million tonnes. Farmers have responded to the price signals and produced more," he said.

The United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government’s ambitious social security programme — the proposed National Food Security scheme — could be implemented in Congress-ruled states ahead of others.

The Budget, to be tabled tomorrow in Parliament, is likely to give substantial allocation to the programme. The Centre plans to launch the programme across the country simultaneously. However, given the opposition of some non-Congress-ruled states to certain provisions of the Bill, there is a possibility that Congress-ruled states might implement it first, said sources.

The Economic Survey has come down heavily on the government for holding on to grain stocks, which, it says, has resulted in ‘artificial shortages’, in turn, causing a spiral in prices. The survey called for investment in stock management and improving the marketing system of agricultural produce for increasing farmers’ income.

“This policy of stocking grain well above the buffer norms comes under criticism on the grounds of hoarding and creating artificial shortages in the market, thereby jacking up the prices of essential commodities. Urgent attention needs to be accorded to efficient food stock management, timely offloading of stocks, and a stable and predictable trade policy,” said the economic survey (2012-13).

The Punjab Government’s proposal to the Centre seeking Rs 5,300 crore for diversification in the agriculture sector has failed to generate any response.

Making a case for genetically-modified (GM) technology to boost farm output, Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar said scientists should not be denied the right to conduct field trials of such crops.