Determined to give peri-urban agriculture a decisive push, Haryana Government has decided to take land on lease on which the farmers are unable to carry out farming activities due to the water-logging problem.
About 16,000 acres of waterlogged land in Jhajjar and Rohtak has been identified for this purpose, said Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister, OP Dhankar, at a meeting of senior officers of the departments of Fisheries, Irrigation, Development and Panchayats on Friday.
It was informed that more than 4.15 lakh hectares of land in the State is waterlogged. This includes 16,000 hectares in 25 and 35 villages of Jhajjar and Charkhi Dadri districts, respectively, where the farmers are unable to carry out any farming activity.
During the meeting, it has been decided that in the first phase, this area of Jhajjar and Charkhi Dadri would be covered under a pilot project. These areas fall in the proximity of Delhi. The pilot project of the Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Department would prove to be a milestone on the road to promoting peri-urban agriculture.
Dhankar said the Fisheries Department would take land on lease for five years at the prescribed rates of the Panchayat Department. Farmers interested in giving land on lease may inform Block Development Officers concerned. The Fisheries Department would carry out fish rearing on the land taken on lease, he added.
After the meeting, the Minister said a committee had been constituted and responsibilities had been fixed for quick action on this scheme.
Comprising state-level officers of the departments of Agriculture, Irrigation and Fisheries and panchayats, the committee would work to give final shape to the scheme. It would be headed by Director, Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Department whereas Director General, Fisheries Department would be the Secretary.
Notably, about 4.15 lakh hectares of land is water-logged out of which 62,728 hectares has ground water level of less than 1.5 meter whereas 3,52,204 hectares have ground water level of between 1.5 to 3 meter.