8 new government veterinary hospitals and 18 new government veterinary pharmacies to come up in the state, CM
6 botanical gardens to be developed at 6 locations in the state, CM
CM announces an interest and penalty waiver on repayment of principal by May 31, 2024, for crop loans taken until September 30, 2023
500 new CM PACS to be established in the FY 2024-25, CM
Punjab Newsline, Chandigarh, February 23-
Haryana Chief Minister, while presenting the State Budget for the year 2024-25 here today said that farmers are the backbone of the economy of the state. Due to the hard work and toil of our farmers, Haryana is a major contributor to national food security. Acknowledging the pivotal contributions made by the Framers, an amount of Rs. 7570.77 crore has been allocated for agriculture and allied sectors and cooperation for FY 2024-25 which is an increase of 38.9 percent over the revised estimates of Rs. 5449.26 crore of the current year.
He said that the Government has taken various measures for the benefit of the farmers as a result of which agricultural production has grown at 8.1 percent in 2023-24, amongst the highest in the country. Support is provided through subsidies for inputs such as seeds, fertilizers and electricity and in their output through different schemes via the mechanism of DBT.
The Chief Minister said that the digital platform of Meri Fasal Mera Byora (MFMB) has been widely adopted by the farmers of the state and has provided the basis for Government intervention in support of the farmers. I am happy to state that up to 10 lakh farmers provide their crop details every season on MFMB which provide useful information to the Government to tailor the strategy for market intervention.
He said that the farmers of Haryana have been provided a safety net for their produce whether in the form of procurement, price support or compensation for damage. Based on the price differential between the prevailing market price and the Minimum Support Price (MSP), the Government has adopted the strategy of direct procurement at MSP or providing support for the price differential through Bhawantar Bharpayee Yojana.
The Chief Minister said that over the last 3 years, the Government has procured 14 crops at the Minimum Support Price (MSP) making the payments directly into the accounts of the farmers. In kharif and Rabi 2023, Government has made a payment of Rs. 29,876 crore directly into the accounts of farmers and Bhawantar support has been provided to the extent of Rs. 178 crore also directly into farmers accounts. The Government would like to assure all farmers of the state that it recognises their contributions and will stand by them at all times.
In 2024-25, a target has been fixed to reclaim 62,000 acres of critical saline & waterlogged area, CM
The Chief Minister said that the target to reclaim an area of 50,000 acres was fixed during 2023-24, against which an area of 52,695 acres has been reclaimed through Sub-Surface & Vertical Drainage technology with an expenditure of Rs. 80.40 crore. In 2024-25, a target has been fixed to reclaim 62,000 acres of critical saline and waterlogged area. I hope to ensure that in the next three years, all critical and waterlogged areas identified by the Haryana Water Resources Authority will be reclaimed and made available for cultivation.
He said that in line with the initiative of the Government of India to promote farmer drones in spraying of fertilisers and insecticides, the State Government is in the process of providing training in drone operations to 500 youth farmers for drone operations through DRISHYA, a State Government Enterprise. Till date 100 farmers have been trained and provided drone pilot licences, shared Sh. Manohar Lal.
The Chief Minister said that to support farmers in prevention of stubble burning and mitigate pollution, the Government has distributed 11,007 Crop Residue Machines to individual farmers during 2023-24. An incentive of Rs. 1,000 per acre is being provided to farmers. Under the scheme, as many as 1.56 lakh farmers registered for management of 14 lakh acres and an incentive of Rs. 139 crore was distributed during 2023-24. In 2023-24, stubble burning cases decreased by 67 percent to 2303 in the last two years from 6,987 cases reported in 2021-22, he informed.
6 Botanical Gardens to come up at 6 locations in the state, CM
The Chief Minister said that the State Government will develop 6 Botanical Gardens at 6 locations in the state for collection, preservation, theme parks, educational, training, germplasm and to act as a major attraction for local population and centre of prominence. Three new Centres of Excellence shall be established: for post-harvest management at Panchkula, for clean planting material at Hansi and for vertical farming at Cheeka.
8 new Government Veterinary Hospitals and 18 new Government Veterinary Dispensaries to be opened in the districts
The Chief Minister said that 2.1 percent of the total bovine population of the country is in Haryana but the state’s contribution to the nation’s total milk production is more than 5.19 percent. The per capita per day milk availability of the State is 1098 grams, which is about 2.4 times the national average of 459 grams per capita per day. Therefore to provide veterinary services to the livestock owners at their doorsteps, it is proposed to open 8 new Government Veterinary Hospitals and 18 new Government Veterinary Dispensaries in the districts where veterinary services coverage is less in proportion to the livestock population of the area.
He said that in order to provide veterinary services at the doorstep, the Government has awarded the contract for 70 mobile Veterinary Units in addition to the 21 such Units presently functional and services are expected to commence shortly.
The Chief Minister said that he hopes that these services prove beneficial to the livestock owners, and they are able to avail veterinary services at their door-step. He further informed that to promote fisheries, Soil and Water Testing facilities will be provided to the farmers through three Mobile Water Testing Laboratory Vans for fisheries at their doorstep. An additional 4000 acres will be brought under fish and shrimp culture.
In FY 2023-24, a sum of Rs. 297.58 crore has been provided directly into the accounts of farmers as compensation, CM
The Chief Minister said that the Government introduced e-kshatipurti as a digital platform for enabling the farmers to register the claim for compensation in case of damage to crops on account of any calamity. This has enabled the Government to provide support directly to the farmer in contrast to the landowner in the past. E-kshatipurti has enabled the quick verification and disbursement of compensation claims. In FY 2023-24, a sum of Rs. 297.58 crore has been provided directly into the accounts of farmers as compensation.
He said that Haryana was the first State to launch Bhawantar Bharpayee Yojana for horticulture crops and 21 fruits and vegetables crops have been covered to mitigate the risk of farmers. . During 2023-24, an incentive of Rs. 41 crore was provided to 6,868 farmers.
500 new CM-PACS to be setup in FY 2024-25, CM
The Chief Minister said that the State Government has launched a new cooperative movement, namely the Comprehensive Multi-Purpose Activities Cooperative Society (CM-PACS), which will promote entrepreneurship and rural development. CM-PACS will encompass a wide range of activities including agriculture lending, crop and food processing, packaging, marketing, storage, and transportation, warehousing, insurance and other rural-based services.
He said that the State Government has planned to establish 500 new CM-PACS in FY 2024-25. I hope that CM-PACS will open up new avenues of prosperity in rural areas and create a platform for the Cooperative movement to thrive.
CM announces an interest and penalty waiver on repayment of principal by May 31, 2024, for crop loans taken until September 30, 2023
The Finance Minister announced that loans are being given to farmers through Primary Agriculture Credit Society (PACS). I announce to waive off interest and penalty on the crop loan, in case Crop loan was availed till September, 30, 2023 and the principal amount is paid by May 31, 2024, provided the farmer is registered on MFMB. Such loans should have been taken by farmers registered on Meri Fasal Mera Byora (MFMB) portal. Thereafter, the farmer will be eligible for crop loan from PACS during Kharif season 2024.
He said that to state that HAFED has successfully entered the export market and obtained export orders of 13,700 MT Basmati Rice valued at Rs. 126 crore during 2023-24. To support farmers through value addition, a new modern turmeric plant of 3 MT capacity per day with a turmeric oil packing line has been set up at Radaur. A Mega Food Park is being set-up at Industrial Model Township (IMT), Rohtak under the Mega Food Park Scheme of the Government of India.
