*Guide farmers to adopt crop diversification to save Punjab: CM appeals agri-scientists and experts

*Welcomes Scientists at International Conference on Climate Change at PAU

*Asserts that onus to guide farmers in adopting sustainable agriculture practices lies on scientists

*Underscores that it is imperative to adopt proactive approach to mitigate the effects of climate change

Ludhiana, 12 November:Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann extended on Tuesday gave a clarion call to the agri scientists and experts across the globe to become guiding light for farmers thereby enabling them to give a major push to crop diversification in the state.

The Chief Minister, in his address at International Conference on Transforming AgriFood Systems in the Face of Climate Change and Energy Transitions at PAU, emphasized the urgency of addressing climate change's impact on agriculture especially in wake of Punjab's vulnerability due to its intensive rice and wheat production. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that crop diversification is much needed to accelerate resilience, higher yields and nutrient-rich soil. He encouraged the scientists attending this prestigious International Conference on Effects of Climate Change to do more and more work for propelling crop diversification in the state.

The Chief Minister said that the onus is on the scientists to guide our farmers in adopting sustainable practices ensuring Punjab's agricultural prosperity. Stressing on the urgency of addressing climate change, he said that failure to act will have severe consequences for future generations. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that in this case the coming generations will undoubtedly hold us accountable for our inaction.

The Chief Minister said that the clock is ticking and it's imperative for all of us to adopt proactive measures to mitigate the effects of climate change. Citing the alarming statistic, he said that growing one kilogram of rice requires 3,000 litres of water and the same motors that gushes out petrol in gulf country is used for pumping water from beneath the ground in the state. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that this unsustainable practice threatens the very foundation and existence of Punjab, a state named after five rivers.

To mitigate this crisis, the Chief Minister advocated adopting alternative water saving crops so that the agriculture could be saved in the state.Recalling the immense contribution of Punjab in making country self reliant in food grain production, he said that the hard working and resilient farmers of the state had provided food security to country in testing times. However, Bhagwant Singh Mann said that for this they had to over exploit their only available natural resources in terms of fertile land and water.

The Chief Minister recalled that Punjab has played a pivotal role in ushering in the Green Revolution in India and the farmers of state have transformed Punjab into a surplus state for food grains and contributing significantly to the national food pool. He said that since agricultural production has reached a stage of plateau so accelerating agricultural diversification through high-value crops such as fruits and vegetables is imperative. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that this shift has the potential to raise farm incomes, ensure sustainability, and provide livelihood security to farmers while also checking climate change.

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CM demands immediate conduct of senate polls in PU

Writes letter to Vice President of India for seeking his intervention into the matter

Chandigarh, November 12:Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann has sought the kind intervention of Vice President of India Jagdeep Dhankhar for immediate conduct of senate polls in Panjab University, Chandigarh.

In a letter to the Vice President, Bhagwant Singh Mann said that non declaration of Senate Elections in Panjab University despite completion of the current senate's term on October 31, 2024 is a highly emotive issue for the state. He said that the Panjab University was constituted under the Punjab University Act, 1947 (Act VII of 1947) and was established to compensate the State of Punjab for the loss of its main University at Lahore subsequent to the partition of the country in 1947. Bhagwant Singh said that after bifurcation of the State in 1966, the Punjab Reorganization Act 1966 maintained its status, meaning thereby that the University continued to function as it was and its jurisdiction over the areas that were comprised in the present State of Punjab continued as such.

The Chief Minister said that ever since then, Panjab University, Chandigarh is part of the emotional, cultural, literature and rich legacy of the state. He said that since the University was set up, its Senate was constituted after every four years, with the members elected through a democratic process. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that strangely, the elections to the Senate have not been conducted this year, though over the last six decades these were held regularly in the months of August - September of the relevant year.

The Chief Minister said that the failure to conduct elections to the University Senate, whose current term ended on October 31, has not only disenchanted stakeholders but is also against the canons of any good governance and the Law. He said that there is a substantial resentment amongst the teachers, professionals, technical members, graduates of the University and representatives of various constituencies for the delay in Senate elections. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that it is also against the statutes of

the University that mandate it to hold the elections every fourth year and this delay has sparked widespread anxiety within the university's academic and alumni communities.

The Chief Minister said that reports suggesting that the democratic election process might be replaced by nominations are adding fuel to fire, as such an alteration would undermine the university's democratic ethos and diminish the voice of the graduate electorate, which has always played a critical role in the governance of the institution. Seeking kind intervention of the Vice President, Bhagwant Singh Mann urged him to advise the Panjab University Administration and the Administration of the Union Territory of Chandigarh for proper and timely conduct of elections to the Senate of the University.