By IANS,
Chandigarh: Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal Wednesday sought a Rs.500 per quintal bonus on wheat over and above the minimum support price (MSP), in view of expected 20 percent shortfall in production due to unexpected heat wave.
In a statement issued here, Badal said the Punjab government was concerned over early maturity of wheat crop and expected weight and size loss of grains due to “once in a century heat wave” in March.
Badal said when Punjab farmers were hoping for record crop this year, the unexpected twist has put the farming community in a quandary.
“We are requesting the union agriculture minister to immediately sanction Rs.500 bonus to partially compensate farmers due to loss in production,” Badal said.
“They (centre) have been also requested to sanction Rs.100 crore to PAU (Punjab Agricultural University) to promote research and development to develop heat resistant wheat crop seeds in view of global warming scenario,” he added.
Expressing concern over the sudden increase in demand for power due to intense heat, Badal said the union power minister has been requested to allocate special quota of power for Punjab to enable it to meet its commitment to national pool.
Punjab alone contributes nearly 50 percent of food grain, wheat and paddy (rice), to the national kitty.