Haryana government to release crop diversification incentive to the farmers
11 August 2020, Chandigarh: Haryana Government plans to release crop diversification incentive to the farmers. Cotton growers in 17 districts of Haryana, who had diversified from paddy under the ‘Mera Pani – Meri Virasat’ scheme during Kharif 2020, will soon receive their first installment of incentive at the rate of Rs. 2,000 per acre, directly into their bank accounts. A total of Rs. 10.21 Crore will be disbursed to such farmers as the first installment.
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The installment will be disbursed to farmers through Direct Benefits Transfer mode after completion of physical verification process by officials of the Department. A total of 20,420 hectares has been verified to have diversified from paddy to cotton in district Sirsa, Fatehabad, Jind, Hisar, Kaithal, Jhajjar, Bhiwani, Charkhi Dadri, Sonepat, Rohtak, Faridabad, Palwal, Rewari, Mewat, Gurugram, Panipat and Karnal.
Cotton growers in district Sirsa would be the biggest beneficiaries under the scheme, with more than Rs. 2.26 crore to be distributed amongst them for opting to sow the cash crop in 4,523 hectares. Farmers in districts Fatehabad and Jind would also get incentives totaling more than Rs. 1.98 crore and Rs. 1.97 crore, respectively, for cultivating cotton in 3,966 hectares and 3,945 hectares, respectively.
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Scheme to conserve depleting ground water
‘Mera Pani – Meri Virasat’ scheme had been implemented in an effort to conserve the depleting groundwater table in the State. Farmers in water-stressed blocks Ratia (district Fatehabad), Siwan and Guhla (district Kaithal), Pipli, Shahabad, Babain and Ismailabad (district Kurukshetra) and Sirsa (district Sirsa), where the groundwater level is below 40 metres, were being encouraged to cultivate alternate crops, including, maize, bajra, cotton, pulses, and horticultural crops.
The State Government had promised to pay Rs. 7,000 per acre for diversified crop, of which the first installment of Rs. 2,000 per acre would be paid after verification and the remaining Rs. 5,000 per acre when the crop is in the maturing stage.
To facilitate the farmers, all diversified crops such as maize, bajra, and pulses would be procured by the Haryana Government at Minimum Support Price (MSP). The Gram Panchayats would not permit paddy growing in agricultural lands owned by them, and applicable financial benefits in lieu of diversification from paddy to alternate crops would be provided to the respective Panchayats.
State Government would also install Maize Dryer in related grain markets for reducing the moisture content of maize grain produced by the farmers. Farmers would also be provided 85 per cent subsidy for installation of Drip Irrigation System in the alternate diversified crops. The Department would promote mechanisation by providing pneumatic or normal maize seed planter for the sowing of maize in the targeted blocks for diversification of paddy through its schemes and Custom Hiring Centres (CHCs).
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