A high level delegation led by Maharashtra State Horticulture Minister Sandipan Bhumre held a meeting with Punjab Horticulture Minister Rana Gurjeet Singh and senior officials of the department at Punjab Bhawan today in which both the states agreed on the exchange of technology being used to increase the production of fruits and vegetables.Addressing the meeting, Rana Gurjit Singh said that the farmers of the entire country were currently going through a severe economic crisis. Only agricultural diversification can get the farmer out of the current economic stress. He categorically said that by producing fruits and vegetables, the farmer can get out of the current crisis.Informing about the bitter realities of the farmers of Punjab, Rana Gurjeet Singh said that the farmers of Punjab have been cultivating wheat and paddy for a long time and the ground water has gone down considerably. Punjab has a reserve of water for the next 25 years. He said that the water level has depleted upto 300 feet deep at present. He said that at present about Rs.7000 crore free electricity was being provided to the farmers.Rana reiterated that crop diversification is the only way to get the farmers out of the crisis. He said that there was ample supply of foodgrains in the country today. And the demand for vegetables and fruits is increasing. Rana Gurjeet Singh acknowledged that the state of Maharashtra has achieved a special place in country in the production of fruits and vegetables.
Punjab and Maharastra can mutually benefit from each other by learning the techniques to increase the production of fruits and vegetables, marketing them and exporting them abroad.Rana Gurjeet Singh also stressed upon the need to use such herbicide and weedicide being used in Europe and US to control weeds and to ensure maximum yield and quality of vegetables.The Minister of Horticulture, Government of Maharashtra Mr. Sandipan Bhumre while thanking the Punjab Government for extending warm welcome and hospitality to the visiting Maharashtra delegation said that the state of Maharashtra was impressed with the progress made by Punjab in the production of citrus crops especially Kinnow. He said that one of the motives behind their Punjab's visit was to get scientific knowledge about the techniques and other methods being used by them to grow citrus crops in Punjab and then to increase the production of these crops in the state of Maharashtra. At the same time, the Horticulture Minister of Maharashtra invited the Punjab Horticulture Minister Rana Gurjeet Singh to visit the state of Maharashtra.During their Punjab Visit the delegation visited Centre of Excellence for Vegetables ,Kartarpur and learned about integrated supply chain. They also visited Centre of Excellence for Potato at Jallandhar and Centre of Excellence for Citrus & Citrus Estate , Hoshiarpur. They interacted with farmers of Punjab to know about benefits of above Centres of Excellence and Citrus Estates.Prominent amongst others who were present in the meeting included Mrs. Seema Jain, Additional chief secretary Development, Mr. Gagandeep Singh Brar, Secretary Horticulture, Mrs. Shailender Kaur, Director Horticulture, Mr Balwinder Singh Sidhu, Commissioner Agriculture and other senior officers of the department.Visiting delegation was comprised of Dr. Mote Kailas, Director horticulture, Mr. Ashok Sirse, PS to Minister, Dr.Tukaram Mote, Mr. Nandalal Bansilal kale, Dr. Kapse Bhagwanrao, Mr. Binwade Vasant, Mr. Sandip Shirsath Mr. Wankhede Manoj, Mr.Gaikwad Sidharth.