Moga, February 22
Agriculture Minister Sucha Singh Langah has warned farmers not to sow paddy before June 15. In his address to farmers on the occasion of the culmination of a three-day chetna march in Moga organised to make farmers aware about mealy bug affecting cotton crop, Langah said, "The state government will re-plough any paddy crop transplanted before June 15 and if farmers continue to err, they will be fined Rs 10,000." Langah said this step was essential to ensure that water depletion and environmental degradation due to paddy crop in Punjab is checked. The Minister also asked the farmers to use organic manures and green manures for maintaining soil health.
The farmers were also addressed by R.S. Sidhu, Financial Secretary, Revenue; Dr Baldev Singh, Director, Horticulture; Dr Nirmal Singh, Joint Director, Extension; Dr Gurdev Singh Gill, Joint Director, Plant Protection; Dr Mangal Singh Sandhu, Cane Commissioner; Dr Ranjit Singh, MD, Punseed, and others.
