In a bid to double the income of farmers by 2022, Haryana Government has sent requisition for assistance to the tune of Rs 700 crore to the World Bank for renovation of irrigation projects and canal system in the State.
This was informed by Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister, OP Dhankar, who was speaking at ‘chintan shivir’ organised to discuss various issues related to agriculture, in Panchkula, near here on Friday.
The Minister also informed that a survey would immediately be conducted to ascertain the problem of water-logging due to heavy rainfall in the affected districts. The compensation of Rs 12,000 per acre would be given to the affected farmers after special assessment exercise.
Dhankar said awards would also be introduced under Soil Health Card scheme, which had been implemented with a view to maintain soil fertility.
He said separate nodal officers had also been appointed for giving information regarding subsidies under various schemes, including the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana. The farmers insured under ‘Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana’ (PMFBY) gets benefits of insurance and those without insurance get compensation at the rate of Rs 12,000 per acre.
Haryana is the first State where farmers have been made 100 per cent risk-free and directed the officers to ensure sending correct report of crop cutting experience to headquarters, he said.
Dhankar urged the officers present at the event to seriously take up the target of Prime Minister to double the income of farmers by 2022. The Department aims at increasing its reach in the Delhi and NCR markets through peri-urban agriculture and a scheme has been prepared for this. The agricultural officers should come forward for this initiative, he added.
Discussion was held in the shivir on various topics such as PMFBY, agriculture entrepreneurship, increase of crop yield and agriculture extension, and farm information.
Speaking at the event, Principal Secretary of the Department, Abhilaksh likhi assured the Minister that the headquarters would provide every possible help to field offices on priority basis.
Director, Agriculture, DK Behera apprised that process has been started to engage retired employees of insurance companies as project officers on monthly honorarium under Part-II of outsourcing policy for PMFBY. He added that efforts would be made that insurance companies would open their offices near offices of Deputy Directors of Agriculture.