The Agriculture Service Centres established in every development block by Chhattisgarh Government are providing agricultural equipments on rent to the farmers, officials stated. The move has benefitted many farmers who cannot afford costly agricultural equipments, they stated.
This apart, the State Government's ‘Kisaan Samriddhi Yojana’ has also proved to be a boon for farmers. Under this scheme, farmers are provided with section-wise grant for tube-well digging, they stated. More than 75,000 farmers have been benefited under the scheme. State Government is operating number of other schemes, which have proved extremely beneficial for the farmers.
Besides cultivation, animal husbandry and fishery are the additional source of income for farmers. Hence, State Government has included animal husbandry and fishery under its all-round agricultural development policy. With the help of Government schemes, large number of farmers has taken up employment-oriented activities to march ahead on the path of progress.
To encourage farmers practicing traditional animal husbandry, the State Government started the scheme of providing loan upto Rs1 lakh at one per cent interest, from previous year. Moreover, several schemes have also been started to promote fishery. Chhattisgarh has become self-dependent in supply of fish seeds.
This apart, in year 2013-14, fish seeds worth Rs1.22 crore were produced. More than two lakh fishermen have been provided employment opportunities through development of 94 per cent of the total area of 1.635 lakh hectares is available in the State for fishery. Giving due importance to agriculture, the State Government presented its first agricultural budget in year 2013-14. Farmers need cash for various agricultural activities right from sowing to reaping.
Earlier, farmers had to pay 14 per cent interest on agricultural loans. But considering the problems faced by farmers, the State Government gradually reduced the rate of interest on agricultural loans from 14 per cent to only 3 per cent. later, the interest rate on agricultural loans was further reduced to one per cent. And since last two years, farmers are availing interest-free short term agricultural loans. last year, agricultural loans worth nearly Rs1,339 crore were distributed to farmers.
large number of small farmers and the ones living in border areas were relieved, when the State Government waived off their expired loans. The State Government last year also commenced weather-based crop insurance scheme to support farmers. Seven major crops were included in this scheme namely paddy, corn, arhar, soyabean, peanut, moong and urad. Other than addressing the need of cash and multi-crop arrangements, State Government has also taken significant decisions to ensure regular supply of electricity, which is another major requirement of farmers for cultivation.
Chhattisgarh has become the first State of the country to facilitate 24x7 electricity supply to agricultural fields of farmers. Irrigation pumps of nearly 3 lakh farmers have been provided electricity connection. Grant of Rs75,000 is provided for electrification of pumps. Farmer-oriented schemes of State Government have relieved the farmers of the expenses like meter fare, fixed charge and electricity sub tax, officials stated.
For agricultural pumps of capacity up to 5 horse power, State Government provides free electricity supply of upto 7,500 unit to the farmers, officials stated.