In a major relief to farmers, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, on Monday, announced to increase the compensation amount in case of crop damage from Rs 12,000 to Rs 15,000 per acre for more than 75 percent damage.
“Similarly, the compensation amount has been increased from Rs 10000 to Rs 12500 for 50 percent to 75 percent damage. Apart from 25 percent increase in compensation will be given in slabs below this,” the Chief Minister said during the launch of a modern Cooperative Sugar Mill constructed at a cost of Rs 263 crore in Karnal.
Khattar said that the Haryana Government is giving the highest crop compensation across the country, however, as there has been no increase in this amount since a few years, so it has been enhanced further.
The Chief Minister called upon the farmers to get their crop insured. He said that two days ago the government had announced that the farmer possessing 2 acres of land will not have to pay crop insurance premium, while for the farmers possessing 5 acres of land, the government has decided to pay half the premium. The farmers having land more than 5 acres will have to get the crop insured themselves, he added.
Khattar further said that the capacity of Karnal Sugar Mill has been increased from 2200 TCDC to 3500 TCDC. Now, the farmers of Karnal and its surrounding areas will not have to take their sugarcane elsewhere, he said.
The Chief Minister said that the rate of sugarcane in Haryana is the highest in the country and he assured the farmers that the rate of sugarcane would remain the highest.
Besides this, the Chief Minister announced enhancement in the washing allowance given to employees of Sugar Mill from Rs 25 to Rs 100. He also assured to consider the ex-gratia policy of these employees.
The Chief Minister said that there are 11 Cooperative Sugar Mills in the State. The government is constantly making efforts to reduce the losses being faced by these Sugar Mills. Power generation plants and ethanol plants are being set up in these mills.
Khattar said that the country would get the benefit of foreign exchange by setting up ethanol plants. The government is investing Rs 660 crore in expanding the Sugar Mills. Gradually, power generation plants and ethanol plants will be set up in all cooperative sugar mills and this will increase the income of sugar mills and reduce losses, he said.
Doubling the income of farmers is the main goal of the government. The government is constantly encouraging progressive farmers. Along with this, other farmers are also being encouraged to start fruit and vegetable farming instead of traditional farming, he added.
The Chief Minister also said that farmers will not face shortage of manure during the sowing of wheat and mustard. The supply of fertilizers is being ensured as the Government is in touch with the Union Ministry. According to the daily demand, sufficient fertilizer is reaching Haryana, he added.
On the occasion, Khattar called upon the farmers to adopt new irrigation techniques. He said that due to the continuous use of groundwater, some areas are coming under the dark zone. In such a situation, farmers should adopt new irrigation techniques like drip irrigation etc.
He also gave the example of Israel regarding the irrigation system, where irrigation is done through different techniques.
He also said that farmers should not burn stubble as this increases air pollution. The government is giving an incentive of Rs 1,000 to the farmers who will not burn stubble. Besides this, a development grant amount of Rs 10 lakh is also being given to the panchayats in the red zone areas which are giving certificates for not burning stubble, he added.
On the issue of ongoing farmers’ agitation against three central farm laws, the Chief Minister said that it is not a movement of farmers but of selected people. They (farmers) should not remain adamant and resolve the issue. People are facing problems due to road blockages, he said.