Punjab News:MANN GOVT DISTRIBUTES 2.07 LAKH QUINTALS CERTIFIED WHEAT SEED ON 50% SUBSIDY: GURMEET SINGH KHUDIAN

Punjab News:MANN GOVT DISTRIBUTES 2.07 LAKH QUINTALS CERTIFIED WHEAT SEED ON 50% SUBSIDY: GURMEET SINGH KHUDIAN

*• 2.18 lakh farmers already registered to avail subsidy benefit on wheat seeds; Sri Muktsar Sahib tops state with 19,110 registrations*

*•Over 2.42 Lakh Farmers to Benefit under ₹50-Crore Scheme: Khudian*

*•No shortage, no black marketing or tagging, Gurmeet Khudian orders strict monitoring for Rabi sowing*

In a bid to ensure higher yield and higher income to the state farmers in Rabi season, Punjab Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian on Friday announced that the state has distributed over 2.07 lakh quintals of wheat seed against a target of 2,42,218 quintals under the Rs 50-crore assistance scheme that provides certified PAU and ICAR-recommended wheat seeds to farmers at half price, with the subsidy capped at Rs 2,000 per hectare.

2. Khudian said that over 2.42 lakh farmers will benefit from the scheme. More than 2.18 lakh farmers have already registered on http://agrimachinerypb.com to avail the benefit of subsidy on wheat seed till date. Sri Muktsar Sahib leads the state with 19,110 registrations, followed by Fazilka (18,369), Bathinda (16,832), Sangrur (16,022) and Patiala (12,982), showing massive farmer enthusiasm for certified seed.

1. Gurmeet Singh Khudian disclosed this while chairing a high-level video conference with all Chief Agriculture Officers (CAOs) to review the progress of subsidised wheat seed distribution across the state.

He emphasised that the 50% subsidy on certified wheat seeds is aimed at encouraging farmers to adopt high-yielding, disease-resistant varieties recommended by the Punjab Agricultural University and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research. The Rs 50-crore assistance scheme is a direct investment in the prosperity of the annadatas. CM Bhagwant Mann led Punjab Government is ensuring better yields and higher returns for farmers.

The Agriculture Minister directed department officials to ensure seamless distribution so that no farmer is deprived of the benefit. The supply chain must function with precision and without bottlenecks.

5. Gurmeet Singh Khudian also reviewed the availability of fertilisers in Punjab. Director, Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Gurjit Brar apprised the Minister that adequate stocks of DAP, urea and other essential fertilisers are available in the state. Against a requirement of 5.50 lakh MT, as much as 5.87 lakh MT of DAP is available to meet the demand.

The Agriculture Minister directed him to maintain close monitoring of the supply chain to prevent any shortage, black marketing or tagging, besides ensuring that farmers face no difficulty during the ongoing Rabi crop sowing season.