Chandigarh, September 18, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Friday reiterated his government’s commitment to protecting farmers’ interests, modernising agriculture and making farming more profitable, while asserting that the state has no surplus water to share with any other state.
Addressing farmers at the Kisan Mela organised at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Mann highlighted measures related to canal irrigation, groundwater conservation, crop diversification, horticulture, seed research and agricultural procurement. The claims and announcements were also reflected in the account of his address published on Friday.
Mann said canal-water utilisation for irrigation had increased from 22 per cent when the present government assumed office to more than 88 per cent. He said 14,000 kilometres of pipelines had been laid across Punjab to take canal water to farmers, while another 7,000 kilometres would be laid by the end of the year.
According to the Chief Minister, recharge points have also been created in canals and rivers to improve groundwater conditions. He said water levels had risen by two to four metres in several areas, while in a separate post on X he claimed that the underground pipeline network had contributed to groundwater-level improvements of up to five metres in the state.
Mann said Punjab’s water resources needed to be protected and maintained that the state had “no spare water” to share with anyone. He said his government would not compromise Punjab’s interests over its river waters.
On agriculture, the Chief Minister said the government was working to make farming more modern and profitable and was strengthening PAU’s seed research so that quality seeds reached farmers. He said the state was spending ₹1,300 crore to promote horticulture and was offering sugarcane growers ₹416 per quintal, which he described as the highest price in the country. He added that the area under sugarcane cultivation had increased compared with the previous year.
Mann urged farmers to use PAU-recommended pesticides and sprays and verify seeds before sowing. He also called for greater adoption of scientific farming practices and new technologies to improve productivity, farm incomes and environmental sustainability.
On crop diversification, he urged the Union Government to provide remunerative minimum support prices for alternative crops. He said better price support would encourage farmers to diversify and reduce pressure on Punjab’s natural resources.
The Chief Minister also appealed to farmers to avoid stubble burning and said the state government was providing machinery for in-situ and ex-situ crop-residue management. He said farmers could completely move away from stubble burning if the Centre provided financial assistance.
Ahead of Kharif Marketing Season (KMS) 2026, Mann assured farmers that every grain of their produce would be procured and lifted from the markets. He said prescribed norms for timely payment would be followed and claimed that Punjab had already received the Cash Credit Limit for the forthcoming paddy procurement season before procurement commenced.
Referring to Punjab’s contribution to the Green Revolution, Mann praised PAU and its scientists for their role in agricultural development and said the university had helped transform India from a food-deficit to a food-surplus nation. He also noted Punjab’s contribution to national food production despite the state accounting for 1.53 per cent of India’s geographical area.
The Chief Minister said the government was also working to supplement farmers’ incomes and address the impact of rising input costs and declining returns. He referred to controversies and alleged irregularities in agricultural schemes under previous governments and said his government had made processes more transparent and accountable and was taking action against those found involved in wrongdoing.
Mann also said more than 90 per cent of households in Punjab were receiving free electricity and highlighted the provision of daytime power supply to agricultural consumers.
He was accompanied by Cabinet Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian and others. Progressive farmers were felicitated during the Kisan Mela.
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