The State Government on Friday demanded the Central Government to provide assistance amounting to Rs 9682.69 crore through the management department for the drought hit areas of the State.
Jharkhand Government's Agriculture Animal Husbandry and Cooperation Minister, Badal along with Departmental Secretary, Abu Bakar Siddique met Agriculture and Welfare Secretary, Manoj Ahuja in New Delhi on Friday. During the meeting, Badal told Ahuja that due to less rainfall and less crop cover in the year 2022 Kharif season, 226 blocks of 22 districts of the State had been declared drought-hit, for which the State Government had made home quarantine and disaster relief.
Badal urged that this amount be given to the farmers of the State in coordination with the Disaster Department, then it would be a great relief for the farmers who are facing the brunt of drought. He told the Secretary that the State Government on its behalf has given Rs 3500 per registered farmer. The Secretary said that he himself would talk to the Secretary of the Disaster Department regarding this.
The Minister after meeting the Secretary said that keeping in mind the interests of the farmers of the State, talks were held on several points. All points including establishment of soil testing lab, revolving fund for ATMA and increase in incentives were discussed in detail. He has also given a positive answer regarding the technical aspect related to the Crop Insurance Scheme.
On the other hand, on the demand of Siddiqui, the Secretary to the Government of India immediately instructed his departmental officials that this time, if the project regarding Honey Mission comes from Jharkhand, then they should be approved and released as soon as possible.
Ahuja said that he should identify 500 high schools for soil testing. “Government of India will make arrangements for soil testing lab. Students will be trained, so that they can bring the soil of their own land and that of other farmers, get it tested in the lab and tell the farmers what the soil is like at that place and which grains can be grown there. This would be a good experiment and you should prepare a project for it and send it to us. The Government of India has arranged a portal for seed tracking, it should be implemented soon in Jharkhand as well so that the right seeds can be distributed in the market,” he added.
During this, Joint Secretary, Agriculture and Farmers Department, Government of India, Mr. S. Rukmani and State Agriculture Director, Chandan Kumar was also present.
Meanwhile, the Central government should issue central funds as soon as possible for the operation of 236 mobile veterinary ambulances in the State, so that people benefit from it. At the same time, the Central Government should also help us in making consultation and DPR for the renovation of the closed Bacon factory in the State. The State Agriculture Minister, Badal saidf this while talking to the Secretary, Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India regarding Central and Centrally Sponsored Schemes at Krishi Bhavan, New Delhi.
Giving information about the problems related to the agriculture sector in Jharkhand, he has demanded from the Central Government. He was discussing the ongoing schemes in the state of Jharkhand with the Secretary, Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India, Alka Upadhyay.
Badal also requested the Government of India to release the central share in the National Livestock Development Scheme.
Siddiqui requested to make a State Model Veterinary Hospital on a 24X7 mode in the State. He said that under the Credit Guarantee Scheme, through NABARD, the youth would be able to get loans and it would prove to be helpful in their standing.
Fisheries officials including Director Agriculture, Chandan Kumar, Departmental Officer, Manoj Kumar Tiwari and Deputy Director Gavya, Pradeep Kumar were present in the meeting.
