Progressive Punjab Agriculture Summit to begin on Feb 16

The five-day Progressive Punjab Agriculture Summit-2014 will begin on February 16 at Chappar Chiri in Mohali near here.
It was decided by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal at a meeting with senior officials of the state government today, an official spokesman said, adding that the meeting also reviewed the arrangements for the summit and an exhibition.
The Chief Minister said the objective of the summit is to give impetus to the agro-based economy of the state, by showcasing various technical aspects being introduced by the state government for agricultural development.
"Punjab is basically an agrarian economy but today, in terms of crop productivity and soil fertility, agriculture has reached a saturation point, and this summit will prove to be a milestone for the sector's development," he said.

The summit will spread awareness among farmers for opting allied farming under the diversification plan of the state, that would make farmers to come out from wheat/paddy rotation on one hand and supplement their income on the other, he said.
Badal directed officials to identify national as well as international institutions to ensure their participation in the summit, and to extend invitations to progressive farmers, agriculture experts and leading agriculture companies from across the globe for chalking out a strategy to bail out the farmers of the state from the current agrarian crisis.
The inaugural session on February 16 would be followed by an agro exhibition. Over 400 stalls by exhibitors from across the globe will come up in the summit.