Punjab CM assures farmers of 8-hours uninterrupted power supply for paddy cultivation

With coronavirus cases rising across the world, especially in India, Punjab cannot remain isolated, a release quoted the chief minister as saying.

Expressing confidence of another bumper kharif crop by state's farmers, who had delivered in tough conditions in the recently concluded rabi season, Singh urged farmers to strictly follow all social distancing norms and take all necessary precautions to protect themselves.

Amid the COVID-19 crisis, Punjab had successfully completed procurement of 128 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) of wheat without a single instance of coronavirus infection reported from as many as 4,000 mandis across the state, the chief minister said.

He also expressed satisfaction at the initial results of the unique direct seeding rice method, for which the state government has provided machines to farmers this season.

The results have been encouraging, with paddy needing less water, he said, adding that the technique is also less labour-intensive.

The state government has been encouraging the use of these machines amidst reduced availability of migrant workers.