Haryana CM receives Krishi Karman Award from PM

by Haryananewswire (Balbir)

CHANDIGARH, JULY 16

Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh presented the “Krishi Karman Award”, the Best Performing State Award for Wheat for the year 2010-11 to Haryana State and it was received by Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda at the 83rd Foundation Day function of the Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR) in New Delhi today.

 It is for the first time that the State has won this prestigious award. The award carries Rs. one crore in cash, a citation and a trophy.

       As per the citation, the Award has been given for exemplary work of supporting farmers of the State and for achieving highest productivity and production of wheat during Rabi 2010-11. Appreciating the dedicated efforts made by the State in extending technological inputs and services to the farmers, the citation further says that the notable initiative of setting up of pioneering soil health, mapping village-level soil fertility, water management, ensuring 100 per cent  seed treatment of certified seeds of wheat, effective control of yellow rust disease, promotion of resource conservation technologies, increase in seed replacement rate has resulted in the State achieving its highest ever productivity and production of wheat during 2010-11. Introduction of compulsory foundation training to new recruits in the department and refresher courses for in service officers on the pattern of Indian Administrative Service has strengthened the extension wing of the department.

          While speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh called upon the agricultural scientists to usher in the Second Green Revolution. He commended the hard work of farmers and said that their income must increase. Prime Minister said that investment in agricultural research and development needs to be more than doubled by 2020 to achieve the target of 280 million tonnes of foodgrains production.

       Later talking to mediapersons, the Chief Minister said that the credit for this achievement goes to the hard working farmers of Haryana and this was the reason that Haryana today is one of the leading States in production of wheat, pulses and mustard. This achievement is a record in itself, he said. Mr Hooda expressed confidence that with the use of scientific methods and modern agro-practices, Haryana will gain more achievements in the field of agriculture.

       During 2008-09 wheat production in Haryana  reached 113.60 Metric Tonnes (MT) with productivity of 4,614 kg per hectare which was highest in the country. As a result the State was able to contribute 69.2 lakh MT of wheat to the Central foodgrain pool, which is the second highest after Punjab. Haryana is the first and the only State in the country to ensure 100 per cent treatment of certified seeds of wheat produced by Government as well as private seed producers during Rabi 2010-11. The entire cost on seed treatment was borne by State Government. A special campaign was launched to educate farmers regarding the fungal disease ‘Yellow rust’ and control measures were taken on war-footing. As a result of initiatives taken, there has been a record production of 116.30 lakh  meteric tonnes of wheat in 2010-11 and the productivity has also reached the highest ever level of 4,624 kg. per hectare in the State.

       At the award ceremony Punjab and Uttar Pradesh got the Award of Best Performing States in the foodgrain production in 2010-11 in Group 1. In Group 2, Orissa and Assam and in Group 3, Tripura got the award. In individual crops, awards went to Chhatisgarh for rice, Maharastra and Rajasthan for pulses and Karnataka for Coarse Cereals.      

       The Union Agriculture Minister, Mr Sharad Panwar and Union Minister of State for Agriculture Mr Harish Rawat also commended the efforts being made by the States in increasing production of foodgrains.

Haryana Agriculture Minister, Mr Paramvir Singh, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Mr Chhatar Singh, Financial Commissioner and Principal Secretary, Agriculture, Mr Roshan Lal and Director General, Agriculture Mr Ashok Yadav were also present on the occasion.