Singh highlighted that adopting maize could significantly boost farmers' incomes, noting that maize not only consumes half the electricity required for paddy but also commands high demand in the petrochemical industry for ethanol production. To further incentivize this change, he proposed a subsidy of Rs 10,000 per acre for maize growers. He also announced that he would personally purchase maize at the minimum support price (MSP) over the next two years, ensuring farmers receive fair returns.

Reflecting on historical trends, Singh recalled that between 2007 and 2012, cotton made up 20 percent of the agricultural output in the Malwa region. However, heavy losses from the pink bollworm pest forced many cotton farmers to switch to paddy cultivation, leading to the closure of numerous ginning mills and cotton factories across Punjab.

Singh warned that without immediate diversification, Punjab’s water resources could be critically depleted within the next 12 to 15 years. Praised by the event’s organizers with a token of appreciation for his contributions to agriculture, Singh avoided political rhetoric, focusing solely on the pressing need to transform Punjab’s farming practices for a sustainable future.