Photo Source: Babushahi Network
Agriculture only sector performed during Covid19 deserves preference for new push: Cheema
New Delhi, June 26, 2021: Dr. Amardeep Cheema, Chairman of Punjab Health System Corporation said the since agriculture is the only sector that performed during COVID-19, it deserves preference for the new push.
Cheema made this demand during a meeting with the member of Agriculture NITI Aayog Dr. Ramesh Chand in connection with the impending COVID-19 situation where the agriculture sector performed exceptionally well and provided record food production which fulfilled the target of food supply to the needy and made a significant contribution to agricultural produce export to earn precious Foreign Exchange amidst Agriculture Crises in the backdrop of 3 new Agriculture Bills against which farmers from all over the country are camping on the borders of Capital Delhi for last 8 Months.
Cheema appealed to Dr.Chand to take up at the highest level the free distribution of free ration to all section of society in addition to existing BPL families for the next 4 to 5 months for basic sustainability where lower and the average middle class is feeling the crunch due to prolonged Covid19 situation which has exhausted their savings and reserves of years due to no recurring income source which he has observed during his extensive travel during covid crises to have first-hand information on health facilitation of Covid19 Testing and Corona Vaccination.
Cheema while highlighting the stagnant Wheat Production in the country particularly Punjab and northern belts of the country the requested Dr.Chand of immediate speeding up of the production of heat-tolerant seeds given the rise in temperature in these areas in February & March every year leading to avoidable production losses which Cheema has been taking up at highest level since his days of Member GB Indian Council of Agricultural Research(ICAR) and Member Board of Management PAU Ludhiana.
Meanwhile, Dr. Chand while appreciating the consistency of taking up at the highest level has assured to take up at the highest level and pass on the necessary instructions to respective institutions with renewed vigor due to his experience and conviction in agriculture as former Director National Institute of Agricultural Economics and Policy Research.