The State Government has decided to establish a ‘Meteorological Centre’ at every 10 kms distance with a view to effective monitoring of its crop based insurance scheme being implemented in Chhattisgarh.
The proposed meteorological centres would collect key weather data using modern equipment. Additional Chief Secretary and Agriculture Production Commissioner (APC) Ajay Singh has asked the Agriculture Department officers to take interest in the establishment of the Meteorological centres.
The decision was taken at a meeting of senior officers of the Agriculture Department at the Mantralaya which reviewed the present status of farming activity in the State in view of the less than normal rainfall so far in Chhattisgarh.
During the meeting, Singh sought information about distribution of paddy bonus, rainfall and sowing of Kharif crops, availability of fertilizers and seeds, implementation of season-based crop insurance scheme.
The APC told the representatives of Apex Bank to ensure distribution of paddy bonus cheques by July 15 positively.
The Apex Bank officers informed Singh that the full amount of first installment of bonus has been deposited in the bank account. Process is underway in all districts to distribute cheques to the farmers.
The Agriculture Department officers said that bonus had been distributed to the paddy seed producer farmers registered in the Chhattisgarh State Agriculture and Seed Development Corporation since last year. This year also, `18 crore bonus would be distributed to such farmers.
On the present status of farming activities in the State, the APC asked the officers to give timely advice to the farmers. For that, all the medium of publicity should be utilised.
Singh also sought information about the availability of seeds for different Kharif crops. The officers said that sufficient paddy seed could be supplied, if situation is created for sowing for a second time also.