CHANDIGARH: In order to push 'Per Acre'  yield of all the crops in general and wheat, paddy & cotton in particular, the Markfed and Cooperative Societies have been asked to lead a campaign for the benefits of Punjab farmers. This was disclosed by Capt.Kanwaljit Singh, Cooperation Minister while addressing a high level meeting held at Chandigarh regarding supply of best quality Agro Chemicals to Punjab farmers through Primary Agricultural Service Societies.

Markfed has been given this mandate to make available Best Quality Agro Chemicals both from own formulation as well as best brands of the market at the door-steps of farmers.  Capt.Kanwaljit Singh expressed that Markfed is already playing a laudable role in distribution of fertilizers to the farmers through Cooperative Societies as during the last two years, the share of fertilizer distribution through Cooperatives has been increased from 35% to 60% in the overall fertilizers market in the State.

Emphasizing the need to provide proper training and educate the farmers for judicious, safe and efficient use of pesticides, Capt. Kanwaljit Singh announced that the Markfed in collaboration with World's leading Agri-Business Company; Syngenta, having turn over of more than 36,000 crore will begin the 'Productivity enhancement campaign in Punjab initially in five districts namely; Ropar, Fatehgarh Sahib, Nawanshahar, Hoshiarpur and part of Jalandhar have been selected where two clusters of ten villages each will be identified for educating the farmers for the purpose. Each member farmer of the society will be contacted by the team of Markfed & Syngenta officials alongwith the Agricultural Experts to disseminate the technical information. Capt Singh further underlined the need to evolve eco-friendly plant protection system as due to extensive use of pesticides the soil quality had already been degraded resulting in continuous decline in production. He asked the Syngenta management to ensure the availability of quality agri inputs on affordable prices to the Punjab farmers to rejuvenate their sagging economy.  While speaking, Shri Jagdeep Singh Nakai, Chief Parliamentary Secretary, Cooperation Punjab explained that there is great demand of Markfed's Agro Chemicals in the cotton belt.  The campaign of Markfed for productivity enhancement in cotton and adoption of  Maur, Talwandi Sabo and Sangat blocks, has received good response.    Shri G.S.Grewal, IAS Managing Director Markfed assured the Cooperative Minister that Markfed will continue to formulate and supply Best Quality Agro Chemicals from its Mohali Plant.

Further, the Markfed & Syngenta will jointly open 3 Farmers Training Centres at Gidderbaha, Rajpura and Jalandhar to supply the requisite fertilizers, best quality agro chemicals, ISI marka cattlefeed  besides imparting training to the farmers. In this regard, three MOUs were signed between Markfed & Syngenta on 29.8.2008 for which Mr.John Atkins, World Head, Syngenta Switzerland and Mr.Andrew Guthrie, Head Asian Countries, Singapore especially came to Chandigarh.  The MOUs were signed by Shri G.S.Grewal on behalf of Markfed and Mr. Parkash Apte, Managing Director, Syngenta India.