CHANDIGARH : Haryana Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister, J.P Dalal said that has clarified that the State Government is committed to provide Minimum Support Price for all the crops of the farmers of the State. Besides this, Government is also dedicated towards further expanding the government Mandis in the State.
He said that in the meeting held late last evening between Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader, Mr. Gurnam Chaduni and senior officers it was clarified that the State Government is also ready to strengthen the statutory arrangements in this regard. Therefore, he expects that the proposed Kisan Rally scheduled to be held tomorrow i.e on September 10, 2020 will be withdrawn.
While making an appeal to the farmers to postpone the rally to be held in the time of this COVID-19 crisis, Mr. JP, Dalal said, “Haryana Government is a farmer friendly Government as it has consistently taken farmer-friendly decisions, whether it is about giving compensation, or developing new Mandis.”
He said that the three New Ordinances namely The Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Ordinance, 2020 and The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Ordinance, 2020 and The Essential Commodities(Amendment) Ordinance, 2020 introduced by the Central Government has only given a facility to farmers that if a private agency wants to purchase outside government Mandis at a price higher than Minimum Support Price, then the farmers can sell their crop at a higher price.
The Minister clarified that with the introduction of these Ordinances, by no means, Government Mandis will not be closed and procurement of crops on MSP will continue. He said that Chief Minister, Mr. Manohar Lal has already given directions to the officers concerned to draft policy to ensure that the trade inside the Mandis does not get hampered due to procurement done outside the Mandis.
He said that crores are being spent for developing the infrastructure of Mandis in the state. He informed that an amount of Rs. 4000 crore will be spent for developing Asia’s largest international fruit and vegetable market in Ganaur of district Sonipat, Ultra-modern Apple, Fruit market in Pinjore and Flower market in Gurugram.
Mr. Dalal said that even in the difficult time arisen due to COVID-19, the number of Mandis and procurement centres were increased to facilitate the farmers and for hassle free procurement of crops. He said that adequate arrangements were made for transferring the money directly in the accounts of the farmers.
The number of Mandis and procurement centres for procurement of Wheat have been increased from 477 to 2,000 and the number of procurement centres for Mustard have been increased from 64 to 248. Mr. Dalal further said that 75.98 lakh metric tonnes of Wheat were procured in procurement centres, informed Mr. J.P Dalal.
Likewise around 7.50 lakh MT mustard was procured. An amount of Rs. 3303 crore has been deposited directly in the accounts of farmers for Mustard. Besides this, 10,703 metric tonnes of gram have been procured in the State and an amount of Rs 50.72 crore has been paid to the farmers. Also, 14721 metric tonnes of sunflower has been procured in the State and an amount of Rs 63.5 crore has been paid to the farmers.
He said that last year, Bajra was procured in 58 Mandis and this year it has been increased to 108. He said that last year Paddy was procured in 197 Mandis, but amid COVID-19 Pandemic apart from 197 Mandis about 200 new Mandis will be opened in rice mills for procurement of paddy starting from September 25, 2020 this year. He said that in the last 5 years, Haryana Government has procured the crops have been on Minimum Support Price.
Divulging details about procurement done in last five years, Mr. J.P Dalal said that in the year 2015-16, 42.70 lakh MT of paddy was procured, 5094 MT of millet, 67.70 lakh MT of wheat were procured. In the year 2016-17, 53.48 lakh MT of paddy, 6341 MT of millet, 67.54 lakh MT of wheat was procured.
Likewise, in the year 2017-18, 59.57 lakh MT of paddy, 31449 MT of millet, 74.25 lakh MT of wheat was procured. In the year 2018-19, 58.82 lakh MT of paddy, 183110 MT of millet, 175 MT of maize, 87.57 lakh MT of wheat and 2.68 lakh MT of mustard was purchased.
Dalal informed that in the year 2019-20, 64.71 lakh MT of paddy, 310921 MT of millet, 93.60 lakh MT of wheat, 6.15 lakh MT of mustard, 200 MT of gram, 2661 MT of moong and 10787 MT of sunflower was procured. He said that in the year 2020-21, 16207 MT of sunflower was procured.
The Minister further shared that for 'Rabi crop wheat' a total of 8,12,136 farmers have registered 47,11,886 acres of land on ‘Meri Fasal Mera Byora’ portal. He said that for Mustard, a total of 3,89,664 farmers have registered 16,20,211 acres of land. Besides this, for paddy, 3,47,808 farmers have registered 18.88 lakh acres of land.
The State Government has consistently taken farmer-friendly decisions, whether it is about giving compensation, our government has always given maximum compensation, said Mr. Dalal. He said that recently the cotton crop was damaged due to whitefly, Chief Minister; Mr. Manohar Lal has also directed to get special girdawari done and said that all such cotton growers who have enrolled under the crop insurance scheme will be compensated under this scheme and the growers who are not registered under the scheme, will be compensated from government treasury.
He said that in the last five years, along with increasing the compensation rate per acre, the State Government has also increased the extent of compensation by including damages caused due to floods, waterlogging, fire, lightning, heavy rains, hail, thunderstorm and whitefly outbreak etc.
He said that compensation amount of Rs. 2694.94 crore has been given to the farmers for the loss caused due to natural calamities, including the outstanding amount of Rs 268.74 crore for the year 2013-14. He said that compensation amount for crops damaged due to natural calamity has been increased to Rs. 12000 per acre from March 1, 2015. Under the crop insurance scheme, claims worth Rs 2662.44 crore were given to 11, 49,450 farmers. Besides this, 85 percent subsidy on drip irrigation is also being given to the farmers.
Mr. J.P Dalal said that some people are misleading farmers by pretending to be farmer friendly. He appealed to the farmers that they should not get misled by such people. The Government is with the farmers and will ensure that they are not troubled at any cost.
He said that the government will not back down in taking any decision in the interest of farmers. If any farmer organization, farmer leader or other farmer representatives wish to give any suggestion in the interest of farmers, then they should come forward and talk to the government. The government will listen to all suggestions and will consider them seriously, said the Minister.