New Delhi, March 27: Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan expressed the nation’s gratitude to the farmers of Punjab on Friday, stating that their dedication was instrumental in making India self-reliant through the Green Revolution. While responding to queries in the Rajya Sabha from MP Satnam Singh Sandhu, the Minister affirmed that Punjab’s agricultural community is not responsible for air pollution. He noted that farmers have shown exceptional commitment to adopting modern stubble management techniques, such as direct seeding and mulching, specifically praising the progress made in the Moga region.
The Union Minister asserted that the government is actively working to address the depletion of groundwater and soil degradation caused by the traditional paddy-wheat cycle. To encourage a shift toward more sustainable crops, the Centre has approved over ₹103 crore for Punjab under the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (PM-RKVY) for the 2025-26 period. Additionally, ₹31.60 lakh has been sanctioned specifically for millet promotion under the National Food Security and Nutrition Mission.
During the session, MP Satnam Singh Sandhu urged the establishment of a dedicated millet research centre at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana. Sandhu maintained that such a facility should be dedicated to Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji, who advocated for millets as early as the 15th century. The MP stated that with 80 percent of Punjab’s groundwater blocks in the “dark zone,” an urgent transition toward water-efficient crops like “Shree Anna” is a necessity for the state’s ecological survival.
Minister Chouhan maintained that the Union Government’s push for millets, inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s global advocacy, serves as a vital tool for diversification. He affirmed that millet production in India has risen to over 185 lakh tonnes in the 2024-25 period. The Minister also declared that 45 high-yielding millet varieties have already been released for Punjab, ensuring that farmers in regions like Bathinda and Sangrur have the resources to move away from water-intensive cultivation.
