CM announces incentives for Haryana farmers

by Haryananewswire

CHANDIGARH, DEC 23

Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda today, on the occasion of Kisan Divas, announced a bonanza of incentives for the farmers of the State which included setting up of Kisan Clubs in all sub divisions and increased subsidy on various agricultural implements.

         The Chief Minister , who was addressing the farmers at a State level Kisan Sammelan organized at Karnal on the occasion of birth anniversary of former Prime Minister of India, Chaudhary Charan Singh, which is being observed as Kisan Divas, also announced that funds being spent under state agriculture modernization scheme have been increased to Rs three crore from Rs one crore. He said that subsidy amount of laser leveler has been increased to Rs 75,000 from Rs 50,000, of multi-crop planter to Rs 20,000 from Rs 10,000, of happy seeder to Rs 50,000 from Rs 25,000, of straw reaper to Rs 60,000 from Rs 40,000 and for zero till machine to Rs 20,000 from Rs 15,000 and of bed planter to Rs 15,000. Also, Mr. Hooda announced that Kisan Clubs would be set up at Sub-divisional level whereas these already existed at district level.

          Mr. Hooda said that former Prime minister Ch. Charan Singh was a great freedom fighter, an able administrator and a distinguished politician. He said that Ch. Charan Singh was also a true sympathizer of farmers.

On this occasion, Mr. Hooda also honoured 28 progressive farmers who had made outstanding achievements in agriculture, animal husbandry and dairy farming and pisciculture. Each farmer was honoured with Rs 25,000 and a letter of appreciation. An exhibition was also organized by various departments.

          Mr. Hooda said in the year 1966 when Haryana was formed, food production of the State was merely 26 lakh tonnes which has been increased to 184 lakh tonnes in 2011-12. He said that during the year 2011-12 with the wheat production of 51.82 quintals per hectare and millet production of 20.40 quintals per hectare, Haryana has become number one state in this regard. He said that Haryana contributes sixty per cent of the total basmati rice being exported from the country. For its wheat production, the Central Government has honoured the State with ‘Krishi Kraman Award’ and this year too, the State is looking forward to bag this award. All this is a result of farmer friendly policies of the State Government. He said that recently he had visited Bhutan where agriculture policy of the State was widely appreciated and they had asked us to cooperate with them in the implementation of our policy in Bhutan.

          Mr. Hooda said that although we have made fast development in the field of agriculture, yet we have faced many challenges. He said that to counter these challenges, the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh had constituted a working group of Chief Ministers under his chairmanship. This Group has, in its report has made various recommendations for the improvement of the agricultural sector. It has recommended  that loan be provided at the rate of four per cent to the farmers which has already been approved by the Central Government. Mr. Hooda urged the farmers to adopt green housing technique by visiting the Indo-Israel Vegetable Centre of Excellence at Gharaunda.

          MP from Karnal Dr. Arvind Sharma, Scientist of Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Dr. S. Ariyapan, Chairman, Haryana Kisan Aayog, R.S. Paroda, Financial Commissioner and Principal Secretary, Argricultre Department, Mr. Roshan Lal also spoke on the occasion.