Ludhiana, March 20 Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann said on Friday that the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is necessary to revive agriculture and increase farmers' income, as traditional farming is no longer profitable.
Addressing a Kisan Mela at Punjab Agricultural University, Mann said the state played a major role during the Green Revolution but this has led to the depletion of soil and water resources.
He said farm incomes are declining and crop productivity has reached a saturation point, making it important to adopt AI-based techniques to improve output and reduce pressure on natural resources.
Mann said AI will help farmers choose suitable crops and timing to maximize productivity and profits.
Highlighting government initiatives, he said farmers were given more than eight hours of uninterrupted power during the paddy season and are now getting daytime electricity for irrigation.
He added that sugarcane farmers are being paid Rs 416 per quintal, the highest in the country, and around Rs 80,000 crore is paid annually for wheat and paddy procurement with payments made directly to farmers' accounts.
On irrigation, the chief minister said canal irrigation has increased from about 21 lakh acres in 2022 to 58 lakh acres, with thousands of canals and water channels cleaned and restored.
He said Punjab contributes about 40 per cent of wheat and 31 per cent of rice to the central pool despite having only three per cent of the country's agricultural land.
Mann also said a Rs 1,300-crore project supported by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) will help expand horticulture in the state.
Referring to welfare measures, he said the government will provide Rs 1,000 per month to women under a state scheme.
Targeting opposition parties, Mann alleged they had promoted drugs and crime and asked people to remain alert.
"I have no share in buses, dhabas, sand or liquor. My only share is in people's pain," he said.