The Chhattisgarh Gover-nment has launched schemes to develop Dantewada, Bijapur, Sukma and Gariaband as ‘complete organic farming districts’, officials informed on Saturday.
This apart, one development block from each of the other districts will be included under ‘Organic Farming Mission Scheme’.
The State Government operates several social welfare schemes through the medium of Co-Operatives. The institutions provide short-term and long-term loans, fertilizers, high-breed seeds and farm equipment, Public Distribution System, housing, fisheries, dairy, forest produce, weavers, mining and horticulture activities are operated, they informed.
The socio-economic condition of weaker sections of the society, Dalits, socially and economically oppressed citizens had improved dramatically during the past 16 years. There is visible prosperity in the lives of poor, rural citizens and farmers, officials stated.
Earlier, the farmers had been provided with loans at huge rates of interest. The State Government provides loans at Zero per cent interest rate which brought happiness and transformation in the lives of farmers and artisans.
Primary Agriculture Credit Co-Operative Societies had been computerised to make payment as soon as possible. All the 1986 kendras had been computerized. About 59. 28 lakh metric tonnes of paddy had been procured from the 11.10 lakh farmers during the current Kharif season.
The State Government had been sanctioning large-scale loans to farmers through these District Co-Operative Central Banks, District Co-operative Agriculture and Rural Development Banks.
The capital of the banks had been increased. long-term credits are provided for the farmers and others for horticulture, fish rearing, silk industry, agriculture forestry, biogas plant and other non-agriculture activities. Boramdev Co-Operative Sugar factory l had been established at village Ramhepur at Kabirdham (Kwardha) district to make the farmers. Sugar factories had also been started at village Karkamar Balod Tehsil in Durg District and another one at Surguja district.
Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel Sugar mill is being started at Pandaria Kabirdham district. The farmers are growing sugarcane to increase their incomes and the mills are located in those districts.
In Chhattisgarh, 80 per cent of the population is engaged in agriculture and agriculture-related activities for livelihood. After formation of new state, Chhattisgarh Government formulated effective strategy to make agriculture a profitable occupation and bring prosperity to the lives of farmers and agro-labourers.
As a result of State Government’s agriculture development schemes and programmes, agriculture development rate in Chhattisgarh has exceeded the national average. Many schemes have been implemented to bring down the input cost of agriculture.
As a result of these consistent efforts, irrigation capacity has expanded from 23% to 34.63% in last 13 years.
Notably, Chhattisgarh has been adorned with prestigious National Krishi Karman Award in year 2010, 2012 and 2013 for highest production of rice. Government has laid special emphasis on production of pulses in the State, as a result of which, the State was awarded ‘Krishi Karman Award’ in year 2014. Paddy procurement on support price, interest free short-term agriculture loan and other farmers welfare schemes have boosted confidence of farmers. Earlier farmers were provided loans at 14% interest but today they have easy access to interest free loans. In year 2013-14, Chhattisgarh introduced separate agriculture budget for the first time.
In Kharif season 2016, nearly 9.5 lakh farmers were provided short-term agriculture loans of Rs 2 813 crores. loans of thousands of small and marginal farmers were waived off to bring relief to them.
Implementation of Prime Minister Crop Insurance Scheme further boosted the morale of farmers, as under this scheme, farmers get insurance cover for all kinds of natural calamities. To improve the financial condition of farmers, we had to make arrangements for cash crop and multiple crop, but for this we needed regular electricity supply.
The State Government took effective steps in the direction and provided number of facilities to the farmers. Chhattisgarh has become the first state of the country to provide 24x7 electricity supply to farmers for agriculture. Nearly agriculture pumps of nearly three lakh 27 thousand farmers have been provided electricity connection.
Financial aid of Rs 75,000 is provided for energizing the pumps. State Government has adopted the farmer friendly policy, under which farmers have been relieved of meter fare, fixed charge and electricity cess. The State Government has also been giving helping hand to farmers by providing 7500 units of free electricity supply for agriculture pumps with capacity of upto 5 horsepower. To save the fertility of soil, organic farming has emerged as the need of the time, officials stated.