*Ensure 5.5 Lakh MT DAP, 15 Lakh MT Urea Before Sowing: Gurmeet Khudian Demands From Centre for Rabi Season*
*•Agriculture Minister Khudian Participates in National Agriculture Conference in New Delhi*
*•Punjab Feeds Nation, Needs Centre's Support for Timely Fertiliser, ₹150-Cr for Stubble Management: Gurmeet Singh Khudian*
Chandigarh/ New Delhi, September 29:
Citing the state's 40% contribution to the central wheat pool, Punjab Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian today urged the Union Government to ensure timely and uninterrupted supply of 5.5 lakh MT of DAP and 15 lakh MT of Urea for the Rabi season 2026-27.
Addressing the National Conference on Agriculture for Rabi Season 2026, organised by the Union Ministry of Agriculture at the National Agricultural Science Complex here today, S. Khudian said the state requires 5.5 lakh MT of DAP and 15 lakh MT of Urea for sowing major Rabi crops, mainly wheat and potato, and urged the Centre to ensure timely supply of the required quantity.
S. Khudian mentioned that Punjab has an cultivable area of 41 lakh hectares and contributes 40% of wheat and 22% of paddy to the central food grain pool. The Agriculture Minister highlighted that during previous years, delays in the supply of DAP and Urea by the Centre during the Rabi season caused significant difficulties for farmers. He urged the Centre to ensure seamless supply to the state so that Punjab can maintain its contribution to the central pool.
Punjab Agriculture Minister shared that Punjab was previously known for cotton cultivation, but unfavourable weather conditions led to crop damage. He mentioned that currently, around 80,000 hectares are under cotton cultivation in Punjab, and if weather conditions remain suitable, a good yield is expected. The Punjab Government provides a 33% subsidy on cotton seeds, benefiting farmers by ₹4 crore. He added that Punjab is making sincere efforts to increase its contribution to oilseeds and pulses in the near future, and the state government has provided a subsidy of ₹6 crore to encourage farmers toward these crops.
S. Khudian stated that 90 percent of the stubble burning problem in Punjab has been addressed through crop residue management techniques. He demanded that the Central Government release the next installment of ₹150 crore immediately so that farmers can be provided with subsidised machinery to completely eliminate stubble burning.
He thanked the Union Agriculture Minister for releasing ₹50 crore to provide 2.50 lakh metric tonnes of certified wheat seeds to Punjab farmers at a subsidy of ₹2,000 per quintal, as well as approximately ₹43 crore as the second instalment for the state under the Krishonnati Yojana. Director of the Punjab Agriculture Department Gurjit Singh Brar and other officials also attended the two-day national conference.
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