Reality check for PAU

While Punjab Agricultural University has been trying to impress upon the state government to levy a cess of 50 paisa for every Rs 100 earned by the farmer, which in turn can be used as funding for the university, Punjab Mandi Board chairman Ajmer Singh Lakhowal has suggested that the state government should even do away with the 2 per cent cess that the state government had levied on cotton buyers for development of research in Punjab. When asked why farmers were not ready to support PAU, Lakhowal said, 8220;Why should only farmers of Punjab pay for PAU. Whatever we grow is consumed by the entire country. Majority of Punjab farmers fall below the poverty line and cannot pay any kind of cess.8221;