New India Manthan-Sankalp se Siddhi programme was organised at Indian Institute of Soil and Water Conservation Research Centre of Indian Council of Agricultural Research at Chandigarh today. The programme was organised in collaboration with Krishi Vigyan Kendra Mohali. Addressing around 250 farmers, social activists and extension workers as a chief guest, Member of Parliament Prof Prem Singh Chandumajra said that Primeminister has taken a Sankalp to double the farmers income by 2022. He said that Central government is committed to fulfill it by reducing agricultural input expenses, facilitating farmers for online sale of their produce, crop diversification and involving them in allied sectors of agriculture.<br/><br/>Mr Chandumajra appealed to the farmers to take pledge (sankalp) not to follow those, who indulge in overuse of pesticides. He said that less costlier and environment friendly alternatives should be adopted, which are good for the soil health.He also appealed to the small farmers to reduce their input expenses by way of keeping common tractor and other agricultural equipments through cooperative or groups. He also appealed to the farmers to adopt agriculture based vocations like poultry farming, bee farming, reading of livestock etc.He said that even the family members of farmers could start small businesses like producing jams, chutneys, papad etc He said that farmers can be saved by increasing their income not by waiving loans only. <br/><br/>He also stressed on judicial use of water and appealed to the agricultural technical experts to invent irrigation techniques which promote use of less water without affecting production. He also advised the farmers to make use of their soil health cards because soil health leads to their financial health. The programme was also addressed Head of ICAR institute Dr (Mrs) Pawan Sharma and others. Besides seminar, the various stalls giving know-how of allied sectors and agricultural based vocations, soil health, crop diversification etc were also put in place for the benefit of farmers.