Chandigarh, April 23 -- Chief minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday announced that the state will establish a centre of excellence for basmati rice, marking a major push towards crop diversification and sustainable agriculture.

The CM said the initiative was secured during his ongoing visit to the Netherlands and is aimed at strengthening farmers' incomes while reducing dependence on the wheat-paddy cycle.

"For the sake of the nation, farmers in Punjab have overexploited the state's fertile land and water resources, making it essential to shift away from the wheat-paddy cycle," said Mann.

He added: "For this purpose, a major push is needed to crop diversification in the state adding that Netherlands can help the state in this noble cause...