Farmers in the harvest season near Barnala, Punjab (Panoramio)
Times of India | September 5 2010
Priya Yadav, TNN
CHANDIGARH: Taking a leaf out of the book of progressive farmers of the state who have made it big in South and Central American countries, the Punjab government is now exploring taking up land on lease in Brazil, Argentina and Mexico to grow foodgrain and export it for domestic consumption.
The government is working on either leasing or buying land in Brazil and Argentina, where some of Punjabi farmers have already scripted success. A farmer, who is cultivating over 30,000 hectares in Argentina, will give a presentation to Punjab DyCM Sukhbir Badal during his visit to these countries as part of a delegation led by Union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar from September 3-13.
Director agriculture Balwinder Sidhu, who is part of the team, said, ''The state government wants to facilitate leasing or buying of land in Central and South American countries... We want to work out modalities to enable the state farmers to start cultivation in these countries.''
