Punjab Agriculture Minister constituted 37 teams to inspect the cotton crop in Malwa region. The Agriculture Minister directed the officials to deal with the possible outbreak of the pest on the cotton crop in the sensitive Malwa belt. On Monday, Agriculture Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal constituted 37 departmental teams to inspect and report on the status of cotton crop in six districts of Malwa amid the menace of pink locust pest.
He directed the officials to deal with possible outbreak of pest on cotton crop in the sensitive Malwa belt from tomorrow. The minister announced in a meeting held at the Mandi Board headquarters in Mohali that he would also visit the affected parts. Dhaliwal, who took charge of the department last week, said marketing would be strengthened to make crop diversification a success and take farmers out of the wheat-paddy cycle.
He said that emphasis would be laid on marketing of these crops to promote maize and other allied crops. He also asked the officials to check the sale of spurious pesticides, fertilizers and seeds and take strict action against those selling such products. Dhaliwal said that direct sowing of paddy is being encouraged by the Punjab Government and also said that the State Government agencies like Mandi Board, Punjab Agro, Punseed, Godown will be strengthened.
