Badal Urges PM To Set Up Farm Science Institute In Ludhiana

Badal Urges PM To Set Up Farm Science Institute In LudhianaPunjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal urged Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh to establish the proposed Borlaug Institute for South Asia at Ladhowal, in Punjab's Ludhiana region.

In a note to PM, Badal said that the Nobel laureate and father of the green revolution Norman E. Borlaug was intimately associated with Punjab.

Badal wrote that the funtionaries of Punjab Agricultural University (in Ludhiana) and many people of Punjab still memorize Borlaug with great honor and warmth.

"Besides, Punjab is at the forefront of foodgrain production in the country. Therefore, it would be appropriate if the proposed institute in memory of Borlaug is established at Ladhowal in the vicinity of Ludhiana city and in close proximity to Punjab Agricultural University," Badal said.

Badal said the state administration has already shown its eagerness in this route by providing free land in Ladhowal for setting up of this organization.

In 2009, after Borlaug's demise, Badal had written to the union agriculture minister seeking the establishment of a wheat research centre in Borlaug's name in Punjab.

Ludhiana, Punjab's industrial hub, is around 100 km from here. (With Input from Agencies)