Bureau
Chandigarh: Haryana Chief Minister while highlighting the need of starting a new agricultural revolution said that the scientists and research institutes of the State’s top Agriculture Universities namely Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University (CCSHAU) and Maharana Pratap Horticultural University should work cordially for conducting the research work and bringing forward new genres.
“We are ready to give every possible encouragement and support to these Universities so as to ensure that the said research work is smoothly carried out. This desired research work will not only ensure reduction in agricultural cost but will also improve the quality of yield produced, which will further play a pivotal role in increasing the income of the farmers,” said Sh. Manohar Lal while addressing the gathering during Haryana Krishi Vikas Mela at CCSHAU Hisar held today. Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister, Sh. JP Dalal and Urban Local Bodies Minister Dr. Kamal Gupta were also present.
“In the slogan of Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan, Jai Vigyan, Jai Anusandhan and now Jai Pehlwan has also been added. Haryana is an agrarian state. Despite having only 2 percent of the country’s population, about 10 percent of the State youth proudly represents Haryana in the armed forces,” said Sh. Manohar Lal.
“New experiments are being done to increase the income of the farmers. The government has also formed the Export Promotion Council. Not only this, the initiative will be taken to start cargo flights from Maharaja Agrasen Airport in the coming time, so that fresh fruits and vegetables grown by the State farmers can be exported to Arab countries,” shared the Chief Minister.
The Chief Minister urged the scientists working at the Agricultural Universities of the State to conduct research on the subject for adopting the best ways to get a high yield with minimum cost. He said that the focus should be on improving the variety of seeds. Also, the Marketing Board should make proper arrangements for the marketing of food grains, said Sh. Manohar Lal.
Adopting natural farming is the need of the hour, CM
The Chief Minister said that today the quality of food grains has been badly affected by the excessive use of chemicals, and pesticides. Adopting natural farming is the need of the hour. State Government is giving several types of subsidies to promote natural farming.
The Chief Minister once again highlighted that because of the constant exploitation of water, the underground water level is going down. Farmers should adopt sowing cash crops including fruits, flowers, vegetables, along with shifting to beekeeping, animal husbandry and fisheries etc.
For borewell installation, farmer has to pay only Rs. 25,000, the rest of the expenses will be borne by the government
The Chief Minister said that we also have to ensure optimum usage of water, for this micro irrigation has to be adopted. For micro irrigation, a subsidy of up to 85 percent is given to the farmers. Borewells are being installed for groundwater recharging. We have planned to install 1000 recharging borewells in the first phase. For this, the farmer has to pay only Rs. 25,000, the rest of the expenses will be borne by the government,” said Sh. Manohar Lal.
About Rs. 52,000 crores sent directly into the accounts of the farmers
The Chief Minister said that to eliminate corruption in payment being made to the farmers, subsidies and other types of financial assistance are being sent directly to their accounts through DBT. About Rs. 52,000 crores were sent directly to the farmers' account and because of this transparent system, the government has been able to save about Rs. 1200 crore,” said Sh. Manohar Lal.
He said that in Haryana, about 80 lakh acres of land is cultivable and the State Government has the details of every inch of this land. “Every farmer should upload complete details of their crops on the Meri Fasal-Mera Byora portal. FPOs are being formed to increase the income of farmers, said Sh. Manohar Lal.
Arable land is shrinking and the economic burden on the farmer is increasing, CM
Sh. Manohar Lal said that the arable land is shrinking and the economic burden on the farmer is increasing, in such a situation, along with natural farming, the farmers will have to adopt other sources of livelihood.
“Haryana is the first state, which buys 11 crops on MSP. Under Bhavantar Bharpayee Yojana, farmers are also being given the difference between MSP and purchase price. Further, under the Mera Pani Meri Virasat scheme, alternative crops have been grown on 1,75,000 acres of paddy area, for which farmers have also been given an incentive of Rs 7,000 per acre. Next year also the target is to further reduce the paddy sowing area by 1 lakh acres,” informed the Chief Minister.
We have ensured water to even those tails of Rajasthan which had waited for the last 25 years to get water, Manohar Lal
The Chief Minister said that for the first time in the state, the present State Government has ensured the supply of water to 300 tails along with those at the Rajasthan border, where water had not reached for the last 25 years.
The Progressive farmers who will assist other farmers will be rewarded by the government, said Sh. Manohar Lal.
Foreign universities and institutions will also participate in this Mela in future, J P Dalal
Earlier speaking on the occasion, Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister, Sh. J.P Dalal said that every year this three-day Mela is organized by the Agriculture Department and Haryana Agricultural University. In future, along with the Agriculture Department, CII, foreign universities and institutions will also participate in this Mela as the government aims to increase the scope of this Mela, said the Minister.
“I am a farmer myself. Like me, even the Chief Minister also comes from a family of farmers hence if in the country anything is done for the welfare of the farmers, it will be implemented first in Haryana. Unlike previous governments which considered farmers as their vote banks, we consider them as our brothers. It is our government’s endeavour that our farmers should be prosperous, and self-reliant,” said Sh. J.P Dalal.
He said that under the leadership of Prime Minister, Sh. Narendra Modi, the Government of India has increased the budget for farmers from Rs 20,000 or 25,000 crore in the year 2014 to Rs 1,25,000 crore.
In Haryana too, the budget for agriculture has been increased six times. In this year’s budget also, the Manohar Lal-led government has increased the budget for Gaushalas from Rs 40 crore to Rs 400 crore. Markets are being strengthened in the state and an international market is being set up in Ganaur. Money is being sent directly to the accounts of the farmers, said the Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister.
He informed that under the Crop Insurance Scheme, an amount of Rs. 6000 crores has been disbursed to the farmers. Apart from this, an amount of Rs 4000 crore has been given as crop damage compensation to the farmers who are not covered under the Crop Insurance Scheme.
“Along with agriculture, the government is also promoting animal husbandry. For this, the budget for animal husbandry has been increased. Several schemes have also been made for fisheries,” shared Sh. J.P. Dalal.
Winners awarded prizes through an online draw of lots
On this occasion, the Chief Minister also awarded several prizes to winners through a draw of lots held online during the function only.
Dinesh, a resident of village Dhandheri, Hisar district won the bumper prize of a 55 HP tractor, worth Rs 8.5 lakh, while, Jogiram, a resident of village Hadoli, district Fatehabad won a small tractor worth Rs. 3.70 lakhs, Ajit Singh, a resident of village Deeg, district Faridabad won a super seeder worth Rs. 2.25 lakh and Joginder Singh, a resident of village Niyana, district Hisar bagged power weeder worth Rs. 1 lakh.
Vidhan Sabha Deputy Speaker, Sh. Ranbir Singh Gangwa, MLA, Sh. Vinod Bhayana, Sh. Jogi Ram Sihag, Sh. Laxman Napa, Additional Chief Secretary, Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Department, Dr. Sumita Mishra, Vice Chancellor, CCSHAU, Professor Baldev Raj Kamboj and a large number of farmers were also present on this occasion.