CM Mann Seeks Wheat Rake Boost; Fisheries & Goatery Sectors Thrive

A meeting led by Panjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann reviewed Panjab’s wheat procurement process amid concerns of storage shortages. As the government readies for an anticipated 12.4 million metric tonnes (MT) of wheat this season, CM Mann met Union Consumer Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi on 26 Mar to seek daily dispatch of 40 rakes of grains out of Panjab, thereby freeing space by 30 Jun. Despite CM Mann’s request, only 20 rakes carrying 50K tonnes exit Panjab daily; officials fear a storage crunch by mid-April. With covered storage of 11.75M tonnes and open plinths accommodating 6M tonnes, Panjab’s total 23.5MT capacity remains heavily stretched. The state is currently creating Covered Area Plinths for 3.5MTs, though the union government typically disallows outdoor storage. Meanwhile, Panjab’s fisheries sector has flourished. Panjab Animal Husbandry, Fisheries and Dairy Development Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian announced a total fish yield of 181K tonnes from 44K acres, plus an annual production of 140M fish seeds at 16 state-run farms. Fisheries Director Jasvir Singh revealed that a union govt.-sponsored scheme disbursed USD 3.5M in subsidies over four years, aiding shrimp operations in waterlogged districts like Bathinda, Mansa, Muktsar, Faridkot, and Fazilka, where farmers net an annual profit of USD 2.9K to USD 4.6K per acre. In another positive story, marginal farmer Balwinder Singh Mann of Tungwali village, who, despite USD 134K in lifetime losses, built a thriving goat farm, selling Beetal goats, breeding sheep, and is planning a goat milk processing plant. In parallel, the Punjab Agricultural University has tackled ecological heritage issues by treating lacquer worm infestations in decades-old Dukh Bhanjani Beri (jujube trees) at key Sikh shrines. Researchers applied neem-based sprays, netting, and specialized solutions to revive these trees at Gurdwara Sisganj Sahib, Fatehgarh Sahib, and other sites.