Punjab government to set up 'Bureau of Agriculture Promotion'

In its bid to provide single window system to farmers for accelerating agriculture growth in the state, Punjab government will set up a 'Bureau of Agriculture Promotion'.

"Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has given the nod to constitute 'Bureau of Agriculture Promotion' in the state," an official spokesman said in Chandigarh on Tuesday.

This will be constituted on the lines of Bureau of Investment Promotion in the state to give "further fillip" to the farming sector, the spokesman said.

"This bureau would provide all facilities to farmers under a single roof for developing agriculture as a far more remunerative proposition," he said. This bureau would also act as a catalyst for Research and Design activities in agriculture besides promoting new farm practices on scientific lines in the state.

In another decision aimed at developing the state as a "hub of Litchi cultivation", the Chief Minister asked the agriculture department to set up Litchi estate at Pathankot.

"Acceding to demand made by a delegation of Litchi growers of the state, which called on the Chief Minister a few days back, Badal has said that this estate must be equipped with ultra modern laboratory and state of the art Nursery," he said.

Badal asked the department to constitute a Litchi Company for the trading of fruit from the estate besides providing pack house facility to ensure grading and packing of Litchis in it.