Punjab rejects 'suicide seeds' but invites company for R&D

"Assuring all possible assistance to the Monsanto", the Chief Minister directed the Vice Chancellor (VC) Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) to provide technical data and logistic support to enable them to produce quality hybrid seeds best suited to the climatic conditions of the state.

Badal also constituted a high level committee headed by the Chairman of Punjab Farmers Commission Dr GS Kalkat with Financial Commissioner Development (FCD) GS Sandhu, Advisor to Agriculture Dr Balwinder Singh Sidhu and Director Agriculture Dr Mangal Singh Sandhu as members to work out the modalities for developing high yielding varieties and maize seed in tandem with the Monsanto Company besides in aiding them to set up research cum seed testing centre at the earliest.

The Committee has also been mandated to suggest self sustaining marketing mechanism to ensure hassle free marketing of Maize to the farmers. The Chief Minister also asked the visiting Monsanto team to also provide high yielding varieties of Soya bean seed to give a fillip to the much needed thrust for crop diversification. The volte-face by the Punjab Government could be understood as top officials including Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister SK Sandhu, Special Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Gaggandip Singh Brar, Chairman of Punjab Farmers Commission Dr GS Kalkat, FCD GS Sandhu, Advisor Agriculture Dr Balwinder Singh Sidhu and Director Agriculture Dr Mangal Singh Sandhu were in attendance.

ALSO READ

Rohtak tense after clashes kill 3, CM Hooda orders probe

'Shootout At Wadala' producer Ekta Kapoor apologises, Valmiki Samaj unperturbed

Theatres in Punjab cancel 'Shootout at Wadala' shows

Rail traffic hit due to protests over Sajjan's acquittal