Chief Minister Harish Rawat declared that the State Government would make available soft loans for required expenditure if the Tarai Development corporation (TDC) presents the plan to encourage the seed production in hilly areas.
Agriculture and Horticulture Departments should mark some crops for advance grant and start advance grant scheme so that fund may be available to the farmers before sowing season. He expressed these views while addressing in the Krishak Mahotsav Kharif-2015 at Shimla bypass, Dehradun on Tuesday.
Government will develop tea gardens in 600 hectare within one year. Government will consider the proposal if it is required to end the VAT on the agricultural equipment like Power Triler.
Chief Minister said that nine per cent of land area of State is without agricultural and forest activities. state will convert this in fertile land. Government will pay promotion amount of Rs300 per tree for Malta, lemon, Amla and Rs400 for walnut. For this State will try to cover maximum farmers under the scheme. We will constitute a separate board for production, development and distribution of Mandua, Chaulay and Fafar. Fifty per cent farmer has been distributed soil health cards but CM expected prompt actions.
CM told that currently farmers are being disturbed compensation against their crop loss. He reiterated that state is always with farmers. Government has released Rs200 crore as a compensation for suffered farmers. Minimum compensation is Rs1,500/- which is highest in the country. Government has directed Officials to provide seeds for next crop.
Mini Kit is being distributed free of cost. Pesticides are being sprinkled by Government to protect the unaffected horticultural crops. Seventy per cent Grant will be given on the seeds of Turmeric and Ginger. Uttarakhand is providing highest grant on agricultural mechanisation. Farmers should make groups to use the agricultural equipment. Gap Money will be available through co-operative banks.
He directed to mark two districts for organic gardening. list to be prepared of farmers those using scientific manners to increase their income. Those farmers should be felicitated and invited in agricultural festivals, conferences to interact and share their best practices. Seed blocks to be developed by Agricultural and Horticultural departments.
About 5-10 percent farmers should be converted as seed producer farmers. Seed-Exchange should be a campaign. Farmers should adopt other activities like dairy, vegetable farming, and fisheries along with farming. Sericulture is growing in the State. Six clusters of lemon grass to be developed in Garhwal and Kumaun division.
Agriculture Minister Harak Singh Rawat suggested for inclusion of local representatives in agriculture festivals. He informed that Government had initiated many schemes for well being of farmers. Agricultural Festivals are being organised in every Nayay Panchayat of the State. Agriculture is back bone of the State economy.
later CM flagged off the agricultural chariot. Some farmers were facilitated as “Shri Kisan” and “Kisan Bhusan”. Chief Minister presented agrarian tools to some farmer groups. Farmers in large numbers including departmental officials, many local representatives and Chairperson Jila Panchayat Chaman Singh were present on the occasion.