Expert panel visits PAU

The Punjab government-appointed expert panel on debt waiver today visited the Punjab Agricultural University here and interacted with members of the PAU's Kisan Club.
The PAU vice-chancellor, Baldev Singh Dhillon, who is also on the panel, was present at the meeting.
The members expressed concern over the rising farmers' suicides in the state and stated that growers were reeling under debt.
"There is a need to study why Punjab's farmers are under debt. Even if the loan is waived once, again the same story is repeated next year," a farmer said during the meeting.
The members were of the view that loan waiver can give relief to some extent, but the problem of farm suicide calls for a permanent solution.

The members of the club stressed on taking urgent measures to tackle this problem and said farmers must be assured that they would not face any trouble in the future.

They also deliberated on farm policies and suggested promoting use of bio-fertilizers, stopping burning of straw, maintaining health of land and soil, and forming farmers' groups to create more awareness about vital issues and farm innovations.
On the occasion, T Haque, who leads the panel, said, "There is a need to evaluate and study the reasons leading to farm suicides in the present scenario."
During the deliberations, B S Sidhu, Agriculture Commissioner, Punjab; J S Bains, Director of Agriculture, R.S. Sidhu, Registrar, PAU were also present.

The Punjab government had set up an expert panel to assess the quantum of agricultural debt and suggest ways and means for farm debt waiver.
Haque was the former chairman of Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP).