Himachal Pradesh Chief Secretary P Mitra on Friday asked the banks to encourage lending for protective farming by promoting setting up of polyhouses — naturally ventilated climate-controlled hothouses — and rejuvenating old apple orchards.
He said the State was laying emphasis on diversification of agriculture and providing irrigation facilities to farmers and encouraging latest farm practices. Presiding over the State-level bankers committee meeting here, Mitra said 60,000 soil health cards were provided to the farmers against the current fiscal target of 100,000.
He said the Government was keen to provide crop insurance and weather-based insurance cover to the farmers and asked the bankers to create awareness among the farmers.
He said the banks have enrolled more than 10 lakh people under social security insurance schemes, which is a good progress. Mitra praised the banks for providing affordable bank finance under Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojna.