The Haryana Government on Wednesday approved a comprehensive Agriculture Policy aimed at attaining inclusive growth exceeding four per cent in agriculture.
The policy envisions that the State Government will strive to ensure un-interrupted supply of electricity to the farmers for eight hours per day, focus on productivity of allied sectors like horticulture crops, livestock, fisheries and poultry and promote dairy based integrated farming system. Recommendations of Working Group on Agriculture related to procurement price would be pursued with the Union Government.
The policy also focuses on ensuring efficient credit and delivery systems, reforms in marketing system and safety net programs, more emphasis on processing and value addition, agricultural research and development and empowerment of women. Other areas to be covered by the policy include diverse agro-ecology and cropping patterns.
The Haryana Cabinet, which met under the chairmanship of Chief Minister, Bhupinder Singh Hooda approved the Agriculture Policy after having threadbare discussion on its various aspects. It was resolved to make all out efforts for its effective implementation so as to ensure increased income and profitability for improved livelihood of farmers of the state.
The Chief Minister said that the State Government had decided to formulate a progressive Agriculture Policy with the help of Haryana Kisan Ayog. Comments received from various stakeholders associated with State agriculture have been considered while preparing this policy. Notwithstanding significant progress in manufacturing and service sectors, agriculture sector continues to play a major role in the State’s economy by providing employment to more than 60 per cent of the population.
Referring to the issue of crop productivity, Hooda said the policy would narrow existing yield gaps, lay special focus on timely sowing and planting of crops as well as promotion of inter-cropping. It will also focus on high yielding stress tolerant hybrids/ varieties/species, production of enough good quality seeds, increased investment in research and development. It will promote crop diversification and also strengthen agro-forestry.
Hooda said that to ensure optimisation of available opportunities, the policy would capitalise on Basmati rice and Murrah buffalo, lay emphasis on diversification, higher productivity and value addition in Mushroom, quality control and marketing. He said that similarly, it would promote dairy based integrated farming system by using certified bulls, providing balanced diet to animals, ensuring health care under PPP mode, establishing fodder banks and net-working of Gaushalas.
Extension of Metro project
The Haryana Cabinet which met under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda approved to fund the extension project of Metro from YMCA Chowk Faridabad.
The Government of India has given in principle approval for this project. A sum of Rs 130.80 crore would be financial implication of this project. The Badarpur Faridabad Metro line up to YMCA Chowk is likely to be completed by September 2014.
Rs 200 cr to Panchayati Raj
An outlay of Rs 200 crore as grant-in-aid to the Panchayati Raj institutions in the State for the financial year 2014-15 was approved.
The grant-in-aid would be distributed among identified villages on the basis of need to fill up the critical infrastructural gaps.
The Planning department has already made a provision under the decentralised plan scheme, for providing grants to the Panchayati Raj Institutions that is Zila Parishads and Panchayat Samitis for development works in rural areas. Besides, the Government has also been releasing grants to these PRIs under other schemes of the department for creation of valuable assets.
Two new universities
Haryana Government has decided to set up two new universities in the State, one at Bhiwani and the other at Jind. An ordinance in this regard was issued.
Chaudhary Bansi lal University with special emphasis on sports would be set up at Bhiwani and Chaudhary Ranbir Singh University would be set up at Jind.
lIJ cIJ IJIJ ces of violence against doctors is on the rise. The reason, he said, was because that the Government had not once used the provisions of the Act to prosecute arsonists. Dr Ramneek Bedi, Trustee of MlAG said that rising incidents of violence against doctors was a serious matter.
Aginsky Group to take out roadshow
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Punjab fixes 8.7 pc interest on GPF, CPF
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