In
a bid to promote the cultivation of Maize and Cotton as alternate crops
besides the plantation of Litchi fruit in a big way under the state's
ambitious Agriculture diversification program, the Punjab Government has
constituted three development boards for motivating the farmers to grow
these crops and fruit.
Disclosing
this here today a spokesperson of the Chief Minister's Office said that
the Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has given nod to set up
these boards under his Chairmanship with Agriculture Minister as Vice
Chairman besides 12 members of Maize Development Board, 11 members of
Cotton Development Board and eight members of Litchi Development Board.
The
Maize development Board would consist of Food and Civil Supplies
Minister, Chief Parliamentary Secretary Agriculture, Financial
Commissioner Development (FCD), Chairman Punjab State Farmers'
Commission, Vice chancellor Punjab Agriculture University Ludhiana,
Secretary Food and Civil Supplies, Secretary Punjab Mandi Board,
Managing Director Markfed, Managing Director Punjab Agro Industries
Corporation (PAIC), Commissioner Agriculture, Director Dairy Development
as members besides Director Agriculture as the Convener.
Likewise,
the Cotton Development Board would comprise Industries and Commerce
Minister, Chief Parliamentary Secretary Agriculture, Financial
Commissioner Development, Chairman Punjab State Farmers' Commission,
Vice chancellor Punjab Agriculture University Ludhiana, Secretary
Industries and Commerce, Managing Director Markfed, Commissioner
Agriculture, General Manager Cotton Corporation of India, Bathinda and
Director Agriculture as members while the Secretary Punjab Mandi Board
would be the Convener of the Board.
Similarly,
the Litchi Development Board would have Chief Parliamentary Secretary
Agriculture, Financial Commissioner Development, Chairman Punjab State
Farmers' Commission, Vice Chancellor Punjab Agriculture University
Ludhiana, Managing Director Markfed, Managing Director Punjab Agro
Industries Corporation and Commissioner Agriculture as members whereas
Director Horticulture would be its convener.
The
Maize and Cotton Development Boards would have 10 progressive farmers
and 3 representatives of processing industry each in the state to be
nominated by FCD as members for a term of three years while in the case
of the Litchi Development Board 10 progressive Litchi growers would be
nominated as members for same term. The Board may invite any eminent
agriculture scientist and outstanding Maize consumer/ processor,
outstanding entrepreneur associated with Cotton processing or
outstanding entrepreneur associated with Food Processing as special
invitees to the meetings.
Maize
and Cotton Development Boards would meet from time to time but atleast
once in six months but Litchi Board would meet once in three months.
Nine and seven members would be quorum for any meeting of the Maize/
Cotton and Litchi Board respectively. These board members would not be
entitled to receive any remuneration for the performance of their duty
except such daily and travelling allowance as may be prescribed.
The
Boards had been mandated to examine and review the status of
cultivation of Cotton/ Maize crops and Litchi fruit in the state and to
suggest measures for their development; to coordinate the activities the
Research and Development for improving their productivity and
production and upgrade their quality through propagation of appropriate
crop production technology; to evaluate the existing storage and
processing practices and suggest measures for improving their processing
and up-gradation of processing industry; to act as a professional
platform amongst the Maize/ Cotton/ Litchi growers, industry and state
government for interaction regarding their development, creation of
brand through organization and participation in national and
international exhibitions in case of Litchi and resolution of issue, if
any; and to arrange studies and research to help plan, evaluate and
suggest medium and long term strategies for development of Maize/ Cotton
besides Litchi in view of World Trade Organization (WTO) and its
Agreement on Agriculture (AoA). All these Boards had been asked to
device their own procedures to regulate their functioning.
