Sukhbir initiates process to launch drip irrigation through solar water pumps

Mumbai, Punjab Deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal today initiated the process to partner with Jain Irrigation to set up drip irrigation facilities through solar water pumps in various blocks of the State for irrigation of wheat and paddy crops.

While Jain Irrigation will provide the equipment as well as technical expertise to farmers as part of the proposed tie up, the State government will assure a minimum yield guarantee to the farmers. The project will initially be taken up in five blocks over 20 acres each.

While interacting with Jain Irrigation managing director Anil Jain, the Deputy CM said “I want farmers to operate drip or sprinkler systems themselves and realise that they work. This will have a cascading effect and popularise the technique”, he added.

Mr Badal also assured that the State government would assure minimum yield to the farmers and compensate them in case there was any shortfall in yield due to the shift to drip irrigation.

Mr Jain while giving a brief to the Deputy CM said his company had done enormous research on drip and sprinkler irrigation in rice and wheat and concluded that drip irrigation could lead to a saving on fertiliser, labour and energy. He said following this technique could also lead to a 30 per cent increase in yield.

It was mutually decided that a team from Jain Irrigation would visit the State and take this understanding forward.

In another meeting, Pfizer India CEO Aijaz Tobaccowala said his company would like to participate in medical programmes for the weaker sections. Mr Tobaccowala said besides supplying quality drugs the company could also help doctors to upgrade their diagnostic skills.

Adlabs promoter Manmohan Shetty evinced interest in participating in the entertainment destination project proposed by the government at the Thein dam.

In other meetings today representatives of OSR group led by Salim Syed evinced interest in establishing a theme park at Amritsar. Others who met the Deputy CM included Cipla Global CFO Rajesh Garg and Mondalez (Cadbury) India MD Chandramouli Venkatesan.

The Deputy CM was accompanied with a team of senior officers including Mr Karan Avtar Singh, Mr Anirudh Tewari, Mr P S Aujla, Mr D K Tewari and his Media Advisor Jangveer Singh besides a team from consultants KPMG led by Mr Utkarsh Pal Nitkar. EOM