Mohali: Gurmeet Singh Khudian, the Punjab Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, laid the foundation of the bio-fertiliser testing laboratory at Kheti Bhawan in Mohali’s Phase 6, marking a significant step towards promoting sustainable farming practices in the region, reported The Times of India.
The establishment of this state-of-the-art facility, with a financial outlay of Rs 2.5 crore, underscores the government’s steadfast commitment to enhancing services for the agricultural community.
In line with the promise made to farmers, the government has strategically planned the establishment of three such testing laboratories across the state. The first laboratory, situated in Gurdaspur, has already reached completion, and another facility is slated to be developed in Bathinda, further fortifying the agricultural infrastructure.
Highlighting the necessity of these testing laboratories, Minister Khudian addressed the historical issue of spurious pesticides and fertilizers being marketed as bio-fertilizers. He emphasized that the Punjab government has taken the initiative to set up these laboratories on home grounds to ensure the authenticity and quality of bio-fertilizers. This move is poised to provide farmers in Punjab with access to high-quality bio-fertilizers, thereby significantly advancing the promotion of poison-free farming practices.
Director, agriculture and farmers’ welfare department, Jaswant Singh, said this initiative will help in improving the quality of bio-fertilisers and giving a fillip to raise standards.
