Chandigarh, Nov. 28 -- More than two years after the Punjab State Farmers' and Farm Workers' Commission submitted its draft agriculture policy to the state government in October 2023, the document is yet to see the light of the day, with officials citing financial and administrative hurdles for the prolonged delay.

Agricultural experts say the government lacks the funds required to execute several major recommendations in the policy, including support for crop diversification, research, contingency reserves and compensation mechanisms.

Punjab agriculture minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian acknowledged the delay, attributing it to "unavoidable reasons". He said: "The government is keen to implement the policy and would make an announcement s...