Accusing Congress party leaders of running a misinformation campaign against crop diversification and crop insurance schemes to incite farmers, Haryana Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Jai Prakash Dalal said that farmers are happy with these schemes. Over 26,000 farmers have registered themselves on the ‘Mera Pani- Meri Virasat’ portal, for crop diversification scheme to shift to alternative crops from paddy in over one lakh acres of agriculture land in the State. There is no deadline for registration on the portal, he added. The Agriculture Minister said payment of over 80 per cent of total procured crops has been given to the farmers so far. A delay of four –five days in the payment took place this time because the arhtiyas were not familiar with the new system of payment, he says. In an interview with The Pioneer over the phone, Dalal shares his views about why Government is implementing crop diversification scheme despite State machinery fighting the corona virus pandemic and steps being taken to facilitate farmers in the upcoming kharif season. Excerpts from the interview:
Farmers suffered a lot during nationwide Covid-19 lockdown and your Government implementing crop diversification scheme. What would you say?
I congratulate farmers for completing crop harvesting and crop procurement successfully during nationwide lockdown despite shortage of work force and untimely rainfall. Paddy crops need large number of workers. Large number of farmers in the State may not be able to sow paddy crops in their fields owing to shortage of manpower. Farmers will get benefit if they go for crop diversification. We believe farmers are not opposing it but Congress leaders have problems. Earlier, they had questioned wheat procurement, while stating that it won’t be completed even in three months. But we have completed it within less than one and half month, which has upset the Opposition. Now, they are trying to find a new issue.
Why are you compelling farmers to sow other alternative crops in place of paddy in the paddy-dominated areas of the State?
We have never forced farmers to adopt crop diversification. About three weeks after the ‘Mera Pani- Meri Virasat’ policy was launched, over 26,000 farmers opted for the scheme in one lakh acre land in the State. Farmers’ income will not increase by producing only wheat and paddy crops. Farmers are encouraged to go for horticulture, vegetables, floriculture animal husbandry, fisheries among others to increase their income.
Do you think you will be able to convince the farmers to go for crop diversification?
Farmers believe in our Government. We urge them to sow those crops which require less water. An incentive of Rs 7,000 will be given to those farmers who will opt for alternative crops in place of paddy. Rural economy can be strengthened if farmers’ incomes increase. Our Government facilitates farmers with number of schemes like providing loan at cheap rate, crop diversification scheme, crop insurance schemes among others to increase their income. Only eight paddy-rich blocks, including Ratia (Fatehabad), Siwan and Guhla (Kaithal), Pipli, Shahabad, Babain and Ismailabad (Kurukshetra) and Sirsa block of Sirsa district, where the depth of ground water level exceeds 40 meters, have been primarily included in this scheme.
The Opposition says it is not the time for such experiments when the country is fighting the corona virus pandemic?
Opposition parties, especially Congress, is doing politics over farmers’ issue. The farmers are not opposing crop diversification. Congress leaders have problems. As per the policy, farmers of these eight blocks are to diversify more than 50 per cent land that was under paddy cultivation last year to become eligible for the financial incentive. While marginal farmers having three acre land are eligible for Rs 7,000 incentive by diversifying one acre land besides seeds. The farmers can choose high quality seeds as per their wishe. We will offer 85 per cent subsidy to them if they opt for drip irrigation. Other facilities will also be given if they opt for horticulture. Our Government will procure maize and cotton under the minimum support price (MSP).
What are the challenges you faced during procurement of Wheat and Mustard crop yields?
Farmers have shown their courage during lockdown. Despite difficulties faced by farmers, Arhtiyas and officials, in a record time of less than one and half month, our government has successfully almost completed crop procurement in the State. Around six lakh farmers reached mandi with their crop yields and followed social distancing norms during crop procurement. Not a single case of Covid infection was reported. During procurement, I took inspection of 40 mandis and ensured proper arrangements for farmers. In comparison to last year, 33 per cent more mustard seeds were procured under Mera Fasal Mera Byora scheme.
Late payment to farmers in lieu of procurement of wheat and mustard has also been a big issue this time. Opposition leaders criticize your government for not paying farmers for their sold crops. When would farmers be paid?
We have already made a payment of Rs 2,000 crore in lieu of procurement of mustard and over Rs 9,000 crore for wheat. Payment of around 80 per cent of total procured crops has been given to the farmers. Payment was directly transferred on the account of Arhtiya. A delay of 4-5 days in the payment took place this time because the arhtiyas were not familiar with the new system of payment. Remaining farmers would be paid soon.
Opposition leaders are alleging corruption in crop procurement. Would you conduct a fair inquiry?
Corruption in procurement of Mustard was reported in Mahendragarh district. Four officials have been suspended. FIR has been registered. With the help of fake documents, some persons had sold Mustard of other States after registering themselves in ‘Mera Fasal Mera Byora’ portal. Order has been given to take stringent action against guilty officials.
After harvesting of wheat crops, incidents of stubble burning have increased. What are the steps you taken to stop stubble burning in the State?
Except few incidents, we have succeeded in putting check on stubble burning in the State. Along with motivating framers, officials have been directed to check stubble burning in their jurisdictional limit.
Your Government has facilitated migrant labourers to go their native States but farmers are facing shortage of manpower during upcoming kharif crop. How will you address this issue?
It is true that migrant labourers were being facilitated to go to their home state. In comparison to other States, we have made proper arrangements for migrant labourers. Shelter home was made for them, ration provided and no labourers slept without food. The train services have been started and we are sure that migrant labouers would reach Haryana again with the start of kharif season.
Farmers involved in floriculture, vegetable and horticulture suffered a huge loss due to nationwide Covid-19 lockdown. How would you compensate them?
We admit that due to closure of market, hotels and temples, farmers involved in floriculture, vegetable and horticulture suffered a huge loss during lockdown. The State Government too lost its revenue during lockdown. . Meanwhile, to provide financial support to these farmers in future, we will launch Bagwani Bima Yojana on the pattern of Fasal Bima Yojana. For this we will talk to Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar soon.
Many farmers in the State whose crops had been damaged due to untimely rain and hailstorm in February and March month are still awaiting compensation for the losses. Even farmers who had got their crops insured under Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana have so far not received the amount claimed by them from the insurance firms. When they would get compensation?
In the last there years since the implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, the firms disbursed claims of Rs 36,000 crore against a premium of Rs 800 crore to farmers in Haryana. In fact, rainfall reported over the last two three months has also benefited farmers as the production of wheat has increased in Haryana.
What are steps recently you taken to facilities farmers of the State?
We have taken several steps to address the issues related upcoming kharif crop season and locust attack. We have made adequate arrangements of fertilisers and pesticides. The farmers need loans on low rate interest. We are providing them farm loans at the rate of 4 per cent. With the introduction of crop insurance scheme, we have freed them from the risks in agriculture sector. No doubt, we are scared as the locust swarm has already entered areas in bordering state Rajasthan. But we are fully prepared. If locusts invade Haryana, we will make sure they don’t remain alive.
