The Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat said that land consolidation would help the farmers of the State where farms are small and scattered. He said that an estimated 60 per cent effort of the farmers is wasted in moving to their land holdings and protecting the produce. The CM was addressing farmers at the State level agricultural seminar and farm machinery bank fair at parade ground here on Friday.
He said that by adopting land consolidation the farmers can exchange their lands among themselves so that all their land holdings come at one place. He emphasised on growing aromatic and tubular plants to augment the income of farmers. The CM said that the agriculture in state is dependent on rains and asked the farmers to adopt rain water harvesting techniques. He said that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken up a target of doubling the income of farmers 2020 and everyone should contribute in achieving this goal. He said that this year, the union government has provided a budget for agriculture and allied an activity which is more than what was received by the state in last 17 years. Rawat added that a loan at a nominal interest rate of 2 percent is provided to the small and marginal farmers of the state and about 1.25 lakh farmers have so far availed its benefit. He said that by the farm machinery banks the machinery would be available to the farmers which will help in value addition of the agriculture produce.
The CM distributed cheques of about Rs 1 Crore to different self help groups for purchase of farm machinery on the occasion.
Speaking on the occasion, the agriculture minister Subodh Uniyal said that by increasing mechanisation, the income of farmers can be increased. He expressed hope that the farm machinery would help the women folk of the mountainous areas. Uniyal informed that the state government has taken a target to establish a farm machinery bank at every Nyay Panchayat in the state. Under the scheme a group of at least eight farmers would be provided farm machinery worth Rs 10 lakh at 80 percent subsidy. He informed that 370 groups have been selected under the scheme and by March 2019, additional 470 groups would be selected under the scheme. Uniyal said that the government has started an integrated village development plan for development of the villages.
The secretary agriculture D Senthil Pandian said that in first stage Farm machinery banks are being established at Nyay Panchayat level while in second phase such facility would be available at every Gram Panchayat level. He informed that under the farm bank, the machines such as Power tiller, weeder thrasher, chaff cutter, self propelled reaper, brush cutter, harrow, seed drill, reaper cum binder, water pumps, power sprayer, pump set and water pipes would be provided to the farmers.
The Rajpur MlA Khajan Das, Jhabreda MlA Deshraj Karnwal, principal secretary Manisha Panwar and large number of farmers from various parts of the state attended the event.