Kapurthala MLA reaffirms commitment to farmers; announces maize procurement at MSP of ₹2400
Kanwar Inder Singh/ royalpatiala.in News/ October 6,2025
Senior Congress leader and Kapurthala MLA Rana Gurjeet Singh today reaffirmed his commitment to the farming community by announcing the start of maize procurement in the region.
Addressing media persons, he stated that the procurement will begin as promised earlier this year when the maize crop was sown across thousands of hectares.
“I had assured the farmers that maize procurement will be ensured at the time of harvest. Today, I am here to fulfil that promise,” said Rana Gurjeet Singh. “We will lift every grain of maize that farmers have cultivated, and the crop will be procured at a Minimum Support Price (MSP) of ₹2400 per quintal, in line with government specifications.”
Responding to a media query, the veteran legislator said he is working to guide both farmers and the Punjab government in a new direction. “We must look ahead. The state needs leadership that not only supports the farmers today but also safeguards their future,” he said.
He also referred to a recent statement by cabinet minister Barinder Goyal in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, during special session last week which revealed that only 50–54 percent of canal water is currently being utilised, while the hopes to take the utilization potential up to 74 percent. “I strongly support the cultivation of monsoon maize, but if canal water is going to waste, spring maize is a more sustainable and profitable option,” said Rana.
Highlighting the economic benefit, he added, “Maize offers returns that are 2 to 2.5 times higher than wheat. I’ve been raising the issue that canal water, which could support such crops, is not being fully utilised.”
Rana Gurjeet Singh also expressed concern over the falling yield of paddy in Punjab. “Loose smut disease has affected at least 25 percent of the paddy crop this season. Farmers are going to suffer losses. We need to rethink our cropping patterns,” he warned. He informed the media that Sultanpur Lodhi MLA Rana Inder Partap Singh has raised the matter in the Vidhan Sabha and hoped that the government will take corrective steps to support the farmers.
Drawing attention to Punjab’s alarming groundwater depletion, he stressed the need for urgent action. “The Central Ground Water Board has warned that Punjab could turn into a desert in the next 25 years if subsoil water is not recharged. In some areas, water levels have dropped as low as 500 feet. On average, the level is falling by one metre every year,” he said.
Rana Gurjeet Singh proposed using excess floodwater from catchment areas in Himachal Pradesh and Jammu to recharge groundwater. “Floodwater must be seen as a resource. The excess water flowing into dams from these regions during monsoon should be used to replenish our subsoil reserves,” he said.
He called for the constitution of an expert committee comprising top scientists from India and abroad to undertake satellite mapping and flood pattern analysis. “We need to know how much water is coming from which region, which region has suffered and how to manage and regulate it. The committee should submit a detailed report to help us take corrective steps,” he added.
Citing recurring floods in 2019, 2023, and now in 2025, he said Punjab must prepare for future climate-induced disasters. “The recent floods have shown that we need a robust system. Whether it’s water release from Ranjit Sagar Dam (RSD) or sudden inflows from khuds in the catchment areas, there must be a well-planned mechanism in place,” said Rana. The Kapurthala MLA reiterated that a proactive and scientific approach is essential to protect Punjab’s agriculture and environment. “We owe it to our farmers and future generations,” he said.
