CHANDIGARH: Out of the Rs 1 lakh crore earmarked for agricultural infrastructure development under the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan’, Haryana has sent various schemes worth Rs 3900 crore for Central Government’s approval and by doing so Haryana has become the first state in the country. It is pertinent to mention that now the Chief Minister Mr. Manohar Lal and Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister, J.P Dalal are now trying that Haryana should get projects upto worth Rs 6000 crore.
Additional Secretary, Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Department, Mr. Sanjeev Kaushal, shared this information during a Webinar held under the chairmanship of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister, Mr. JP Dalal on the above mentioned subject along with officials of various departments, Progressive Farmers, Arhtiyas, Farmers Producer Organizations, Rice Millers, Cotton Millers, and Other Stakeholders.
In the first session of the webinar, Mr. Kaushal discussed on how to use agricultural infrastructure funds and increase post-harvest management facilities. He also discussed on means to develop supply chain. The representatives of other departments, Boards, Corporations and Banks related to the agriculture sector also shared their plans.
Kaushal said that COVID-19 Pandemic has adversely not only affected India’s economy but also that of the world. There has been a huge decline in the country's GDP and to bring the economy back on track, Central Government and State Government have formulated new schemes. For this a package of Rs. One lakh crore has been earmarked for agricultural infrastructure out of the Rs. 20 lakh crore economic package announced by the Prime Minister, Mr. Narendra Modi.
Kaushal said that he is glad that, Mr. JP Dalal himself has participated in this webinar along with 25 Progressive Farmers, representatives of 10 Farmers Producer Organizations, five Arhtiyas, traders, representatives of rice millers and cotton millers and has given invaluable suggestions. Mr. Kaushal informed that under the scheme, agricultural entrepreneurs and startups have to be brought to the forefront.
Managing Director, HAFED, Mr. D.K Behera, informed that a Detailed Project Report of about Rs.3950 crore under Agriculture Infrastructure Fund has been prepared and sent to the Central Government, of which schemes worth Rs.352 crore of HAFED, Rs. 315 crore of Haryana State Warehousing Corporation, Rs. 72 crore of Sugarfed, Rs. 1607 crore of Horticulture Department, Rs. 112 crore of Haryana State Agricultural Marketing Board, Rs. 87 crore of Haryana Dairy Development Co-Operative Federation Ltd. and Rs. 1400 crore schemes of Harco Bank is included.
He informed that under this scheme, there is a provision of giving subsidy on loans up to two crore rupees only for initial processing for developing warehouses, silos, cold chains, and other supply chains and the scheme will remain valid from 2021 to 2030.
Chief Administrator, Haryana State Agricultural Marketing Board, Mrs. Sumedha Kataria, gave detailed information about three Ordinances namely, The Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Ordinance, 2020, The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Ordinance, 2020, and The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020 which has been recently introduced by the Centre.
She said that farmers have been given the facility that if any private agency wants to purchase the crop outside the government Mandis at a price higher than Minimum Support Price (MSP), then farmer can sell his crop at a higher price.
Progressive farmers of Sonipat including Mr. Kanwal Singh Chauhan, Man Singh Arya from Radaur, Hardeep Singh Sarkaria from Sirsa, Mr. Pawan Kumar from Yamunanagar, Mr. Sahib Singh and Mr. Hardeep Singh from Indri shared their views during the in Webinar.