Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Sunday, highlighting the need of starting a new agricultural revolution, said that the scientists and research institutes of the State’s top Agriculture Universities — 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 this 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 Khattar while addressing the gathering during Haryana Krishi Vikas Mela at CCSHAU Hisar. Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister 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 two percent of the country’s population, about 10 percent of the State youth proudly represents Haryana in the armed forces,” said Khattar.
He said that new experiments are being done to increase the farmers’ income. “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,” he said.
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 seed variety. Also, the Marketing Board should make proper arrangements for the marketing of food grains, said Khattar.
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 and the State Government is giving several types of subsidies to promote natural farming, he said.
Once again highlighting that because of the constant exploitation of water, the underground water level is going down, Khattar said that the farmers should adopt sowing cash crops including fruits, flowers, vegetables, along with shifting to beekeeping, animal husbandry and fisheries etc.
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 Khattar.
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 Khattar.
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 Khattar.
Khattar 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.
The Progressive farmers, who will assist other farmers, will be rewarded by the government, said Khattar.
