category Regional, chandigarh, , tags Regional, chandigarh, , DW BUREAU Chandigarh Punjab Agriculture Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal on Monday held a crucial maiden meeting with Kisan Mitra through video conferencing after their appointment. He said that under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, the Punjab government is making sincere efforts to make the state Rangla Punjab and prosperity of agriculture is very important to achieve this goal. He said that at present, to make agriculture prosperous, it is imperative to increase the area under alternate crops. He urged the Kisan Mitra to encourage more farmers to grow diversified crops like cotton and Basmati instead of paddy. Dhaliwal said that Kisan Mitra should play their pivotal role ro encourage farmers in maximum area. He said that it is the main duty of Kisan Mitra to take more farmers towards crop diversification to get them out of the cycle of wheat and paddy. On this occasion, the Minister of Agriculture also expressed concern over the deepening level of underground water. Dhaliwal said that Kisan Mitra should continue to educate the farmers by continuously providing information as per the decision taken by the government about planting alternative crops like rice and basmati instead of paddy. He assured the farmer friends that the officials employees of the Agriculture Department will continue to help them in organizing regular training programs and camps from time to time. Prior to this, appropriate training has also been given to Kisan Mitra so that farmers can be encouraged to plant alternative crops. He said that higher officials will hold a meeting with the Kisan Mitra every Monday and block level and district development agriculture officers will also be present in this meeting. The Agriculture Minister said that Kisan Mitra should sensitize the farmers in taking proper decisions regarding the use of agricultural inputs like pesticides, fertilizers etc. Apart from this, the farmers should also be made aware to avoid the sowing of Moong in cotten belt amid threat of whitefly insects. (editor dailyworld.in)