paddy to maize shift

Chandigarh, June 4 — In a landmark step toward sustainable farming, the Punjab government has launched a major agricultural diversification plan to shift 12,000 hectares from water-guzzling paddy to kharif maize cultivation. The initiative, led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann and spearheaded by Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian, aims to address Punjab’s deepening groundwater crisis and boost farmer incomes.Farmers adopting maize will receive a financial incentive of ₹17,500 per hectare a package designed to offset input costs like seeds and fertilizers and to promote a shift towards water-efficient crops. According to officials, this pilot project will be implemented in…