Chandigarh (Punjab) [India], November 27 : Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, will visit multiple locations in Punjab on Thursday, 27 November, to review rural development initiatives and interact with farming communities. His day-long programme includes meetings in Moga and Jalandhar districts, focusing on agriculture practices, MNREGA implementation, and post-flood relief measures.
The visit will begin at the Ransingh Kalan village in Moga, where the Union Minister will interact with farmers and villagers. Ransingh Kalan has gained recognition for its sustained efforts in eco-friendly farming. For the last six years, farmers in the village have not engaged in stubble burning. Instead, they have managed crop residue through scientific methods, which has led to increased soil fertility and a reduction of nearly 30% in the use of chemical fertilisers. The Minister is expected to discuss these practices with the community and understand their outcomes.
Chouhan will then reach Udham Singh Nagar in Jalandhar, where he will meet beneficiaries of MNREGA. Ahead of the visit, the Union Minister posted on X (formerly Twitter) that the number of MNREGA workdays in Punjab has been increased from 100 to 150. He stated that this decision aims to support labourers affected by the recent floods in the state.
Following this, Chouhan will conduct a review meeting on rural development schemes in Jalandhar. Officials from the district administration and related departments are expected to brief him on ongoing programmes and progress made in rural infrastructure and livelihood sectors.
Later, the Minister will address a press conference at the District Magistrate's Office in Jalandhar, where he is likely to share key observations from his field visits and outline the Centre's support measures for the state.
The day's engagements will conclude with an interaction with farmers at the ICAR-Central Potato Research Centre in Jalandhar. Discussions are expected to focus on crop research, productivity, and new agricultural technologies relevant to the region.
Chouhan's visit comes at a time when Punjab continues its efforts to adopt sustainable farming practices and recover from recent natural disasters.