Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel transferred Rs 5.12 crores to the bank accounts of beneficiaries on Thursday as the 10th installment under Godhan Nyay Yojana. More than 140,000 cattle ranchers have benefitted under the scheme.
Addressing a programme via video conferencing from his office in the Assembly, Baghel said that so far nearly Rs 64.20 crores have been paid to the cattle ranchers under the Yojana. He said the scheme has improved the financial status of the ranchers.
Thousands of rural women are working on vermicompost production from cow dung under the scheme. Its selling rate has been hiked from Rs 8/kg to Rs 10/kg. With vermicompost available, farmers are opting for organic farming.
Baghel said the price of cereals and fruits produced from organic farming is nearly one and a half times more. Hence, organic farming is likely to increase farmers' income.
Agriculture Production Commissioner Dr M. Geeta said that nearly 7,824 gauthans have been sanctioned in the state, out of which construction of 4,704 has been completed.
Under Godhan Nyay Yojana, 32 lakh quintals of dung have been procured, she said. Nearly 8,050 quintals of vermicompost have been sold.
Farmers have donated hay worth Rs 5 crore to gauthans so that fodder for the cattle in gauthan could be produced. Ajola is being produced as fodder in gauthans, she added.