Chandigarh, November 13, 2024: Punjab Legislative Assembly Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhawan has called on farmers across the state to adopt crop diversification, moving away from the traditional wheat and paddy cycle and urged for a united strategy to counter what he described as baseless allegations from the BJP-led central government.
Sandhawan raised points on the financial benefits of diversifying crops, urging farmers to reduce wheat and paddy acreage.
“Shifting away from the wheat-paddy cycle can provide farmers with profitable alternatives and reduce dependency on these staples,” he said, suggesting that diversification could also help farmers avoid restrictive measures imposed by the Centre.
He also criticized the central government for failing to lift rice stocks from Punjab’s shellers, which he claimed had created storage issues and added to the farmers’ struggles.
Accusing the BJP-led Centre of allegedly undermining the agricultural sector, Sandhawan stated, “The central government has long been working in favor of big businesses, disregarding the plight of farmers.”
He accused BJP leaders of unfairly blaming farmers for air pollution, arguing that instead of addressing agricultural issues and finding sustainable solutions, the government has opted to harass farmers as part of a broader political agenda.
Sandhawan also encouraged farmers to explore organic farming as a profitable alternative, pointing out that this approach offer economic gains and suggested that farmers could form cooperative groups to establish small-scale industries, generating additional income from their diversified crop output.
Reaffirming the Punjab government’s commitment to promoting crop diversification, Sandhawan stated that efforts are underway to support farmers in making this transition.
He noted an urgency of reducing pressure on the state’s depleting underground water resources, calling it a necessary step to ensure the well-being of future generations.
“Proper use of our natural resources is crucial for the sustainable future of our children,” he added.
