Haryana Agriculture Minister Om Prakash Dhankar said that the State Government has been working in coordination with the Agriculture and Irrigation Department to check groundwater depletion and attract farmers towards horticulture and cash crops instead of traditional farming. Besides, there is a proposal to provide subsidies for horticulture, agriculture and drip and sprinkler irrigation in an integrated manner.
Replying to a question raised by MlA Subhash Barala regarding the steps taken by the Government to check the decreasing fertility of land due to cycle of wheat and paddy crop and the rapidly decreasing groundwater level, during the third day of the ongoing monsoon session of Haryana Vidhan Sabha, the Minister said that due to excessive use of chemical fertilisers, the use of organic fertilisers has been limited to just 20 per cent.
In paddy-growing areas, the groundwater level is dropping by 21 centimetres every year, resulting in the increase of dark zones. In many areas, the groundwater level has dropped by eight metres in the last five years. With the production level of wheat and paddy in the State standing at 10 to 12 tonnes, there is a shortage of micro elements like nitrogen, phosphorous and potash to the tune of 625 to 675 kg per hectare, leading to decrease in land fertility.
Dhankar informed the House that new varieties of crops and techniques of irrigation were being developed to promote crops that require less water. He added that the Department has been presenting maize as an alternative crop in paddy majority areas in order to stop the reckless exploitation of groundwater. While 13,427 hectares were brought under maize crop for demonstration in 2013-14, 23,500 hectares has been brought under maize crop during the current Kharif season.
The Minister said that the groundwater level was adequate in only 20 blocks in the State, and excessive exploitation of groundwater was being done in 71 blocks. While there was a requirement for one crore feet of water for irrigation, only 60 lakh feet of water was available in the State. Therefore, the groundwater level has been dropping due to the gap of 40 lakh feet in requirement and availability of water.
Dhankar also apprised the House that for the first time, a sum of Rs two crore each has been allocated to fill canal water in ponds of rural areas of all Assembly Constituencies. Of the total 2,600 ponds, canal water has so far been filled in 1,400 ponds. Apart from this, injection bores were being installed for recharge of groundwater in dark zones, he added.
He informed the House that this year, millet and sunflower crops were purchased on minimum support price.