CHANDIGARH: Haryana Government has decided to provide financial assistance to all the 11,311 individual farmers who have applied for agricultural implements under the crop residue management scheme ‘Promotion of Agricultural Mechanization for In-Situ Management of Crop’, in the current growing season. Total assistance of about Rs. 155 crore at the rate of 50 per cent will be given.
While stating this here today, Additional Chief Secretary, Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Department, Mr. Sanjeev Kaushal, said that the Department would provide 454 balers, 5,820 super seeders, 5,418 zero till seed drills, 2,918 choppers/mulchers, 260 happy seeders, 389 Straw Management Systems, 64 rotary slashers/shrub masters, 454 reversible mould ploughs and 288 reapers to the beneficiaries.
Online applications for agricultural implements had been invited from individual farmers and societies till August 21. As many as 11,311 farmers applied for 16,647 implements, against a target of 2,741, in the individual category, he added.
The State Government had recently decided to give preference to small and marginal farmers in hiring of machinery from Custom Hiring Centres (CHCs), and in providing equipment to individual beneficiaries under the scheme.
The Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Department has also identified red, yellow/orange and green zones in all districts on the basis of incidences of crop residue burning last year. District Administrations and officers of the Departments in all districts have been directed to monitor and report any incidences of stubble burning.
A comprehensive plan to the tune of Rs. 1,304.95 crore has been approved for crop residue management to prevent stubble burning in the State. The plan includes a fusion of in-situ and ex-situ crop residue management techniques, apart from monitoring activities through a dedicated control room, and registration of FIRs against violators. The Central Government has provided Rs. 170 crore to the State under this plan this year, he added.