Officers instructed during review meeting; Govt committed to increasing farmers' income
Punjab Newsline, Chandigarh-
Haryana Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Shyam Singh Rana directed officials to ensure payments are made to farmers promptly upon the sale of sugarcane. He also directed the immediate settlement of farmers’ outstanding arrears.
Rana was presiding over the meeting of the officers of the department here today. Principal Secretary of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Department Sh Pankaj Agarwal, Additional Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Dr. Saket Kumar, Director of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Department Sh Rajnarayan Kaushik, Managing Director of "Haryana State Federation of Cooperative Sugar Mills" Sh Shakti Singh and other senior officers were present in the meeting.
The Agriculture Minister held detailed discussions with officials regarding the pending payments to sugarcane producers associated with Naraingarh Sugar Mill. He instructed them to resolve the issue as quickly as possible. He emphasized that sugarcane crushing at the mill should continue without interruption and that farmers should receive payment promptly.
Rana said after the meeting that the state government remains fully committed to protecting farmers’ interests. The government is focused on reducing the cost of farming while continuously increasing crop yields. Farmers are being encouraged to conduct laboratory testing before sowing crops to maintain soil health. High-quality seeds are being made available, and efforts are underway to raise awareness among farmers to reduce reliance on chemical fertilizers. Additionally, various incentives are being offered to promote natural farming practices.
The Minister also stated that farmers in the state are being encouraged to adopt modern and diversified farming practices instead of traditional methods. Subsidies are being provided to those who start ventures in fish farming and animal husbandry. He reiterated that under the leadership of Chief Minister Sh Nayab Singh Saini, the state government is continuously working to enhance the income of farmers across the state.