category Regional, chandigarh, , tags Regional, chandigarh, , DW BUREAU Chandigarh Punjab can expect to have its own apple orchards -- which are visible only in the hill states, said Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema while presenting the state budget for 2023-24 on Friday.He also said that the AAP government will give a major push to diversification in the agriculture sector. Cheema presented the Bhagwant Mann-led government s second budget having a total size of Rs 1.96 lakh crore in Punjab Vidhan Sabha here. Citing famous farm scientist MS Swaminathan s quote that If agriculture goes wrong, nothing else will have a chance to go right , Cheema said the importance of agriculture in Punjab s society and economy cannot be overstated. The hardworking farmers of our state single-handedly fed India, but unfortunately have always got a step-motherly treatment from successive central and state governments, he said. Noting that it is high time for a course correction, Cheema said, Like a mother immersed in feeding her children, Punjab did not worry about her own health. Today, our soil has lost natural nutrients, the water table has considerably depleted, chemical fertilisers and pesticides have poisoned our environment . He said the state government will introduce a new agricultural policy to conserve natural resources and increase farmers income. While speaking on the horticulture sector, the minister said, It is a pleasure to tell this house that Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, has created an apple variety through tissue culture, which is suited for Punjab s climate conditions. In the next 2 years, we can expect Punjab to have its own apple orchards, which are only seen in hill states . Cheema proposed an allocation of Rs 13,888 crore for the financial year 2023-24 for agriculture and allied sectors, which is 20 per cent more than what was in 2022-23. To promote the area under fruit and vegetable crops in their natural growing regions, the government intends to set up five new horticulture estates in Ludhiana, Gurdaspur, Patiala, Bathinda and Faridkot. Our Government has also decided to launch a new risk mitigation scheme i.e. Bhaav Antar Bhugtan Yojna for horticulture producers. The government would intervene to ensure the right remuneration to horticulture producers, whenever market prices would fluctuate beyond a certain level. I propose an initial allocation of Rs 15 crore for this purpose, he said. Further, a new scheme for diversification through flower seed production would also be operationalised in the upcoming financial year, he added. PTI (editor dailyworld.in)