Jauramajra hands over Rs.4-CR grants for Watershed Programmes

In a first, Soil & Water Conservation Minister interacts with more than 100 members of Watershed Committees, Farmer Produce Organizations and Self Help Groups of five districts

Chandigarh, December 22:

          Punjab Soil and Water Conservation Minister Chetan Singh Jouramajra, on Friday, handed over grants of more than Rs.4 crore for the development and agricultural farm production improvement works for 7 watershed-based projects being implemented at total cost of Rs.80 crore in Sub-Mountainous Kandi belt’s five districts Hoshiarpur, Pathankot, SBS Nagar, SAS Nagar and Rupnagar.

          In a first ever such initiative, the Cabinet Minister interacted with more than 100 members of Watershed Committees, Farmer Produce Organizations (FPOs) and Self Help Groups (SHG) from district Hoshiarpur, Pathankot, SBS Nagar, SAS Nagar and Rupnagar at Soil Conservation Complex Mohali.

          Sardar Chetan Singh Jauramajra, while reiterating Chief Minisrer S. Bhagwant Singh Mann led government’s commitment to stop brain-drain and provide meaningful employment to the local youth in the state itself, emphasized on improving livelihoods of landless, small and marginal farmers by providing financial assistance or by imparting skills to such individuals or groups so that they can start earning their livelihoods in dignified manner.

          The Cabinet Minister also asked for developing agriculture-allied sectors such as dairy, piggery, goatry, poultry, bee-keeping etc so that farmer has a regular source of income all the year round. Amid the rising awareness of harmful effects of chemicals used in agriculture, he called upon expanding area under organic cultivation by promoting adaptive seeds, local manures, vermi-compost etc.

        Watershed committee representatives informed the Cabinet Minister about prioritized works, including water body creation, irrigation pipelines, and livestock initiatives. FPO’s representatives shared their growth from 30 to 270 members across 15 villages, engaging in activities like lemon grass cultivation and mustard oil processing. The watershed projects aim at overall development, covering natural resource management and livelihood generation. Chief Conservator of Soils,  MS Saini, highlighted PMKSY-watershed programs, spanning 28,800 hectares with a total cost of Rs. 80.80 cr and benefiting 157 villages across 5 districts upon completion.