Chandigarh: Punjab Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian, on Monday, held a threadbare deliberations with the senior officers of the department on the draft of “National Policy Framework on Agricultural Marketing” at his office here and decided to call an immediate meeting with farmers and other stakeholders within this week.
S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian, along with Additional Chief Secretary Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Mr. Anurag Verma, Chairman of Punjab State Farmers' & Farm Workers' Commission Dr. Sukhpal Singh, Secretary Punjab Mandi Board Mr. Ramvir, asked the department officials to call a meeting with representatives of farmers, Agriculture experts and other stakeholder immediately to analyze and consult on the draft policy shared by the GoI.
He further said that the draft policy needs thorough analysis and consultation with stakeholders as it could have serious implications for the State and its farmers. He further informed that the Agriculture department has already shot a letter to Dr. S.K. Singh, Deputy Agriculture Marketing Adviser and Convener of the Drafting Committee, GoI, to give at least three weeks time to send comments on the draft Policy.
Reaffirming the Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann led Punjab Government’s unwavering stand for the betterment and welfare of the state farmers, the Agriculture Minister directed the officials to conduct an in-depth study of the draft policy to ensure that not a single point should be left unconsidered, which could further prove to be dearer to the farming community in short run or in future.
He also asked the officials concerned to lay a special focus on concerning issues such as MSP, Market fee to further strengthen Mandi Board in general and the state’s agriculture marketing infrastructure in specific, besides ensuring a safe environment that can safeguard farmers interests from big corporates.
The high-level meeting was also attended by Director Agriculture Mr. Jaswant Singh, HoD Economic and Sociology (PAU) Dr. Jitender Mohan Singh and senior officials of Punjab Mandi Board and Agriculture department.