Mann Government Promoting Agricultural Diversification, Extending Major Benefits to Fish Farmers: Sandhu
Tarn Taran Election News: Senior Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and candidate Harmeet Singh Sandhu today issued a press statement, saying that under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, the Punjab government is taking historic steps to promote agricultural diversification and enhance farmers’ income. He said that in order to help farmers break away from the traditional crop cycle, the government is encouraging allied occupations such as fish farming, and a special plan has been outlined to promote it extensively across the Tarn Taran district.
Sharing recent figures and details of government schemes, Sandhu said that due to the efforts of the Mann government, work is progressing rapidly on the construction of new fish ponds over nearly 3 hectares of land in Tarn Taran district. Calling it a major relief for farmers, he said that the government has introduced a special subsidy scheme for this purpose. The unit cost for the construction of new ponds has been fixed at ₹11 lakh per hectare, and most importantly, fish farmers will receive a subsidy ranging from 40% to 60% of this cost. He said this direct subsidy will provide significant financial support to farmers and encourage them to start this profitable new venture.
The AAP leader further said that Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann’s vision is to ensure that farmers are not dependent solely on subsidies, but that their occupations become self-sustaining and profitable. “That is why the government’s focus is not just on constructing ponds, but also on supporting fish farmers at every stage,” Sandhu added.
He explained that the biggest requirement for fish farmers is the availability of quality seed (fingerlings) and feed. Considering this, the Mann government is providing high-quality fish seed to farmers at very affordable rates through government fish seed farms. Moreover, since feed constitutes a major portion of the overall cost of fish farming, the government is also making special arrangements to supply quality feed at low prices, ensuring that the business remains profitable for farmers.
Harmeet Singh Sandhu said that due to the flawed policies of previous governments, farmers of Tarn Taran had been burdened under heavy debt, but these initiatives of the AAP government will not only increase farmers’ income but also create new employment opportunities for the youth of the district. He appealed to farmers to take full advantage of these government schemes and adopt agricultural diversification to strengthen their economic future.
