DW BUREAU / AMRITSAR To update with the ground reality, a series of meetings with the farmers have been started by the Director Horticulture Gulab Singh Gill with the farmers of Punjab. A meeting with the farmers of district Amritsar was held at Pear Estate Verka. Many progressive farmers of different horticulture crops have participated in this meeting. Director Horticulture welcomed all the participants and apprised them of the purpose of the meeting. He said that the Department of Horticulture is committed to bring the diversification in view of fastly decreasing ground water table in the state. He said that being less water guzzling crops, horticulture crops are a better alternative of traditional crops for diversification. After that, the farmers raised their issues one by one. Subsidy required for fencing of orchards and farms to avoid the damage of stray animals and for replacement of polysheet, shade net, drip irrigation after 5 years of establishment of unit are major demands of the farmers. They also demanded to revive the departmental scheme of supplying plastic crates and agrochemicals to the farmers so that they can get quality crates and agrochemicals at nominal prices. Pear growers requested financial assistance for transportation charges & packaging material of pear. To get rid from the higher electricity bills, farmers requested that similar for agriculture crops their commercial electricity connection needs to be converted to A.P. connection for mushroom units and poly house units which can boost the diversification further. After listening to the issues of the farmers, Director Horticulture assured that the issues in purview of the Department shall be addressed at the earliest whereas, the issues beyond the purview of the Department shall be sent to the Punjab Govt. for consideration and their suitable solutions. (editor@dailyworld.in)