JP Dalal: Haryana Govt working on doubling farmers’ income

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JP Dalal: Haryana Govt working on doubling farmers’ income

Monday, 20 January 2020 | MANOJ KUMAR | Chandigarh

First-time BJP MLA Jai Prakash Dalal who is a Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Fisheries and Law and Legislative says that the State Government is effectively working on doubling the farmers’ income and several steps have been taken in this direction.

The Agriculture Minister said the State Government is making policies to strengthen the rural economy. He said along with fruits, flowers and vegetables, farmers are being motivated for animal husbandry and fisheries, pointing out that the State Government is making proper arrangements so that farmers can get a fair price for their crops.

The 66-year old Dalal contested 2019 Assembly polls on BJP ticket and won by defeating Somvir Singh of Congress from Loharu constituency, which is a part of Bhiwani-Mahendragarh Lok Sabha constituency.

In the Assembly election-2019, BJP failed to attract Jat community as many Jat leaders of the party lost the election. His induction as a Cabinet Minister in the BJP-JJP coalition government by the BJP is viewed as an attempt to consolidate the Jat votes in Hisar, Sirsa, Fatehabad and other belts of the State.

In an exclusive interview with The Pioneer, Dalal reveals his political journey and priorities as a Minister of the State. Excerpts from the interview:

You have been in State politics over three decades. But you won the Assembly election for the first time in 2019 and became a Minister. How do you view this?

It is true that I had waited for around three decades to become an MLA and a Minister in the State despite being in active politics since 1990. I have been with the people throughout my political journey. I have given maximum time to public life. I believe that if your intention is good and work unbiased, people will support you and send you in the Assembly. I started as a Junior Engineer in the Irrigation department of Haryana and after resigning from the job in 1984, I set up my own business and later joined politics.

I was founding General Secretary of Haryana Vikas Party in 1990. I held key positions such as General Secretary, Haryana Vikas Party and Vice-President in BJP, Haryana and In-charge Kisan Morcha Haryana.  I was in-charge of BJP’s Kisan Morcha, Haryana in the year 2018. I have also been involved in the promotion to join with modern farming activities, raising voice for safe drinking water, women empowerment and self-employment generation. In 2009, I contested as an Independent candidate against Somvir Singh of Congress (son-in law of ex-CM Bansi Lal) from Loharu constituency but lost by a margin of 623 votes only.

In 2014, I contested as BJP’s candidate from the same constituency but again lost by a margin of 2,065 votes.

 

More than two months passed after the formation of the coalition Government in the State. As a Minister, what are the steps you taken to facilitate the farmers to improve their income?

Haryana is a progressive State in the field of agriculture. Series of measures have been taken to improve the income of farmers ever since I took charge. I understand the actual situation of farmers as I hail from a farmer’s family and working for the upliftment of farmers since long. Being a Minister, my topmost priority is to double the farmers’ income. For this, Haryana will have to move in the direction of horticulture along with diversification.  The department officers have been directed to work on to promote horticulture in a big way. Works are being executed in such a way that farmers’ produce are processed, packaged and branded and sold directly in the market, which will increase the income of the farmers. Ultramodern apple, fruits market will be set up in Pinjore. Our government has decided to set up an international vegetable market in Ganaur. Apart from this, flower market will be set up in Gurugram while a spices market will be set up in Sonipat. The schemes under which subsidies are given by the Central and State Government being monitored by the officials concerned from time to time.

What is your priority as a Minister?

As I pointed out, we are working on to improve the condition of farmers and want them to become self-reliant and make farming sector profitable. Lots of works are to be done in the departments allocated to me. I will try my best to live up to the expectations of the people.

You are one of the senior most politicians in the Council of Ministers of the new Government. People have huge expectations from you. What is your plan to address people’s concerns?

All Government benefits must reach the last person in the queue and I will continue to work in this direction.

As you said, your topmost priority is to double the farmers’ income. How you would be able to achieve it? In the meeting with the department officials, what did you instruct them?

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has set the target of doubling the income of farmers by 2022. By adopting multi-pronged approach and with the implementation of central and state government schemes, we will be able to achieve the set target. The Agriculture Department officers have been directed to conduct awareness programmes with a vision to double farmers’ income by encouraging them to cultivate natural, organic and horticultural crops. Instruction has been given to provide training and information regarding horticulture, agriculture, and processing to farmers and their children so that they can become employable anywhere in the country and even abroad also. More centers of excellence will be set up under horticulture in order to increase the cultivation of flowers, fruits, and vegetables in the State. Separate wing for natural and organic farming will be formed under the Department of Agriculture which would only serve to train and make aware of the farmers on the subject.  In today’s time, diversification of crops is very important and for this, farmers need to be aware so that they can grow crops like maize and instead of crops like paddy and wheat. To boost horticulture in the State, export of vegetables, fruits and flowers will be promoted. Export of these products will help in increasing the farmers’ income and would also add in the economic development of the State.  I chalked out plan after meeting with the officers and deploy their expertise effectively. The officials were directed to implement the schemes with the best practices.

You must have made promises during elections for your constituency people.

What are priorities for your constituency?

I thank people of my constituency for showing faith and electing me for the first time. I would like to fulfill the promises made during the election. The officers have been directed to speed up the completion of the ongoing development works for the betterment of the life of people. Instructions have also been given to the officers to ensure that all the public related complaints are taken seriously heard apart from taking necessary actions.

Farmers are directly involved in stubble burning and your Government is struggling to stop it through several measures have been taken. Please share your ideas as a Agriculture Minister to stop stubble burning?

We are concerned about it. Multi-purpose approach needs to be taken and one of them is to create awareness among the farmers. Several other measures have been taken in this direction. I have also directed to make liaison with industrial units for the management of the stubble. Along with this, steps are being taken to ensure that the farmers do not burn the stubble instead can get extra income by selling that for its usage in cow-shelters. From this year onwards, we will be able to reduce it at the minimum level or completely be able to stop stubble burning in the State.

Unemployment is a big issue and large numbers of people are connected with agriculture and allied departments directly or indirectly. What are steps you taken to create employment through your departments?

The State Government approved the plan to construct a Spice Market in Sersa village of Sonipat.  With the setting up of this Market, along with the development of the area around 50,000 people will also get employment opportunities. Horticulture related skills training will also be provided to the youth so that they can get employment opportunities in aboard. The State Government will also help the youth in providing loans for occupations such as agriculture, horticulture and animal husbandry. To promote horticulture-based industries and cold supply chains in the State, the government has decided to subsidise the electricity rates for the industrial units of this sector. While, with this decision, Framers, Farmer Producer Organization (FPO) listed with Small Framers Agri-Business Consortium Haryana, Cooperative Societies and other Micro and Small Enterprises related to horticulture will get electricity on almost half the price.

What are the steps you taken to remove corruption in your departments?

We are working on to eliminate corruption and for this a special number has been issued, on which any person give information related to corruption and strict action  will be taken on every complaint. With the help of latest technologies, corruption will be curbed completely.

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