PAU asks finance panel for more funds for agri research

CHANDIGARH : Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) vicechancellor BS Dhillon on Thursday urged the Fifteenth Finance Commission to allocate more funds for research in agriculture and allied sector.

He said this while putting his views before the commission whose members reached Chandigarh to meet the stakeholders in the field of agriculture.

The commission members led by Ashok Lahiri took views of the 25 agriculture experts from different parts of the country.

The commission after having held similar meetings in Patna, Hyderabad and Pune, will submit report by November 2019.

“Understanding Indian economy without the role of agriculture is improper. We are here to learn challenges and opportunities,” said Lahiri while addressing the media. “We are optimistic that India can do better,” he said.

Ramesh Chand, a member of the commission, said it is important to increase productivity, infrastructure, research and design, and research in agriculture non-agriculture sectors.

He recommended to take into account climate change while doing research in agriculture sector with a focus on regional balance and safety regulations.

In his suggestions to the commission, Punjab State Farmers Commission chairman Ajay Vir Jakhar sought weightage and fiscal incentives to include aspects like farmers’ income and farm productivity.

He asked commission to work out ways and means to shift away population from agriculture. “The states which have which have lesser non-agri component in the household income must get more weightage in resource allocation,” he said.