AAP’s Punjab MP, Vikramjit Singh Sahney, says AI can help farmers with crop diversification

Chandigarh: Rajya Sabha MP Vikramjit Singh Sahney on Wednesday unveiled a report titled "Punjab Vision - A Blueprint for Progress" that highlights the need for crop diversification, including the introduction of millets in the mid-day meal scheme and adding millets to the 5 kg ration scheme.
Releasing the report, which is based on deliberations with experts last year, Sahney said, "Punjab should create and promote AI technology for sustainable crop diversification and should set up an AI-driven chatbox to assist farmers."
Sahney stated that there is an urgent need for setting up food processing parks, preferably through multipurpose cooperative societies in a cluster of villages. These parks should include storage and processing facilities, oil extraction, flour mills, and the processing and packing of spices, pulses, honey, and mushrooms.
He also discussed the need for organic farming, with institutions like Markfed and Punjab Agro providing market linkages. Sahney proposed setting up crop-specific clusters, such as pulses, oil seeds, and cotton in Malva; sugarcane in Doaba; maize in Hoshiarpur; dairy development in Kapurthala; floriculture in Ludhiana; litchi in Pathankot; and chillies in Ferozepur. MSID:: 118935241 413 |