For achieving success specifically under Oilseeds promotion and production, Prime Minister, Narendra Modi awarded the Haryana Agriculture Department.
Haryana Agriculture and Farmer Welfare Minister, Jai Parkash Dalal received the award at Commendation Award Ceremony in Oilseeds Category for 2017-18, held at Bengaluru on Thursday. The award consisted of a citation and an amount of Rs 1 crore.
Giving details, Additional Chief Secretary, Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Department, Sanjeev Kaushal, who also accompanied the Agriculture and Farmer Welfare Minister in the award ceremony, said that the Department had taken various initiatives for increasing production of Oilseeds crops particularly Mustard in Haryana and consequently, Mustard Crop area ranges between 5.10 lakh hectare to 6.36 lakh hectare in the State.
He said the State Government has taken major steps for providing remunerative prices to the farmers and initiated procurement of Mustard for the first time in the State during 2016-17 and it is continued till date. Initially, 37000 MT Mustard was procured under Price Support Scheme at the MSP fixed by the Government of India. During 2017-18, the total quantity of 2.69 LMT Mustard was procured and it has been increased to 6.19 LMT during 2018-19.
Kaushal said there was a considerable increase in the production of Mustard during 2017-18 (11.08 LMT) in comparison to 2016-17 (9.35 LMT). He said that there was a considerable increase in the Average Yield of Mustard during 2017-18 (2018 Kg/ha.) in comparison to 2016-17 (1850 Kg/ha.) Apart from this, seed replacement rate increased to 99.82 per cent under Oilseeds.
The official said Agriculture Department initiated specific program for low productivity blocks. The farmers were informed about the latest package and practices regarding growing of new varieties new fertilizer and integrated pest and diseases management.