KAPURTHALA: Senior Congress leader and Kapurthala MLA Rana Gurjeet Singh today reaffirmed his commitment to the farming community by announcing the start of maize procurement in the region.
Addressing media persons, he stated that the procurement will begin as promised earlier this year when the maize crop was sown across thousands of hectares.
"I had assured the farmers that maize procurement will be ensured at the time of harvest. Today, I am here to fulfil that promise, " said Rana Gurjeet Singh. "We will lift every grain of maize that farmers have cultivated, and the crop will be procured at a Minimum Support Price (MSP) of ₹2400 per quintal, in line with government specifications."
Responding to a media query, the veteran legislator said he is working to guide both farmers and the Punjab government in a new direction. “We must look ahead. The state needs leadership that not only supports the farmers today but also safeguards their future, ” he said.
He also referred to a recent statement by cabinet minister Barinder Goyal in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, during special session last week which revealed that only 50–54 percent of canal water is currently being utilised, while the hopes to take the utilization potential up to 74 percent. “I strongly support the cultivation of monsoon maize, but if canal water is going to waste, spring maize is a more sustainable and profitable option, ” said Rana.
Highlighting the economic benefit, he added, “Maize offers returns that are 2 to 2.5 times higher than wheat. I’ve been raising the issue that canal water, which could support such crops, is not being fully utilised.”
Rana Gurjeet Singh also expressed concern over the falling yield of paddy in Punjab. “Loose smut disease has affected at least 25 percent of the paddy crop this season. Farmers are going to suffer losses. We need to rethink our cropping patterns, ” he warned. He informed the media that Sultanpur Lodhi MLA Rana Inder Partap Singh has raised the matter in the Vidhan Sabha and hoped that the government will take corrective steps to support the farmers.