Agriculture Minister Brijmohan Agrawal has directed officials to aggressively promote litchi cultivation in Koriya district among farmers. Chairing a meeting at district headquarters Baikunthpur during his tour of the district under ongoing Statewide lok Suraaj campaign, Agrawal directed officials to prepare a special action plan for promotion of litchi cultivation in the district.
He also asked officials to motivate farmers for advance lifting of fertilizers and seeds by June 30 this year. Agrawal told officials that under lok Suraaj Campaign, the various schemes are being reviewed at the ground level. He also directed the officials of Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) and Energy Department that citizens should not face any problem for water supply and power in their localities.
On agricultural issues, Agrawal stressed on augmenting irrigation area in the district while asking officials to get canals and drainage repaired. He also directed officials to encourage farmers for taking up sugarcane, maize and oilseeds-pulses crops for cultivation. The Minister also directed officials to make special efforts for increasing the acerage for organic farming and Drip Irrigation.
Meanwhile, considering tremendous prospects of further promoting litchi farming in Bilaspur district in March this year, Bilaspur District Collector Siddarth Komal Singh Pardeshi had asked the officials of Horticulture Department to prepare a working plan for cultivation of litchi in Pendra block of the district. The saplings of litchi would be planted under MNREGA , the Collector had stated while reviewing the works of Horticulture Department.
During the meeting he stated that lalpur nursery in Pendra Road region yields good litchi crop. The environment and soil of this region is favourable for litchi cultivation. There is goods scope for getting better litchi crop output, he said. He further asked the Department officials to prepare plans for cultivation of different kinds of fruits or flowers through which Bilaspur district could make its unique name.
In Ratanpur flowers could be grown, in Takhatpur conditions are favourable for cultivating banana, Pardeshi suggested. Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Zila Panchayat demanded funds for carrying out plantation of one lakh saplings in seven different nurseries of the district. The target given to the Department and its current position was also discussed in the meeting.
Deputy Director, Horticulture informed that in seven blocks of the district 315 hectares of mango farms have been developed. About 393 farmers are taking benefits from the mango farms. In the same way under the berry top working program berry plants were grown in 9100 hectare that turned out beneficial for 1212 cultivators. The programs under National Horticulture Mission were also discussed in the meeting.
Meanwhile, the Chhattisgarh Government’s Drip Irrigation Scheme, Micro Irrigation Scheme and Sprinkler Scheme have greatly contributed in expanding the area of cultivation and yield of horticulture crops, officials stated. Under Sprinkler Scheme, total 38,995 farmers were benefited whereas under drip irrigation scheme, 9000 farmers were benefited. last year, nearly 16.98 lakh farmers received grants under various beneficiary-oriented schemes.
Under Drip-Irrigation Scheme initiated in year 2005-06, subsidy of 75 per cent is provided to small and marginal farmers and that of 50 per cent is provided to big farmers for installation of drip instrument. Till date, about 38,640 farmers have been benefited under Sprinkler Irrigation Scheme and nearly 7,126 farmers have availed the provisions of Drip Irrigation Scheme. State-sponsored Micro-Irrigation Scheme was initiated in year 2102-13.
The efforts of the Chhattisgarh Government to convince farmers to even grow fruits and vegetables had already started paying dividends. The area under cultivation of vegetables has increased from 3.13 lakh hectares to 3.51 lakh hectare, while production from the same has increased from 3.69 lakh metric tonnes to 4.58 lakh metric tonnes so far, officials stated. This apart, under the scheme initiated to encourage small farmers engaged in vegetable cultivation on river banks, the State government also provides subsidy of Rs4700 per 0.4 hectare.
The State Government initiated two new schemes in year 2012-13 to increase the income of horticulture farmers. Moreover, the State Government also provides subsidy of Rs13,500 for installation of drip-irrigation scheme in 500 sq metre in farms of BPl and marginal farmers, officials stated. In the year 2009-10, total area under cultivation of fruits in the State was 1.47 lakh hectares and total production from the same was 12.14 lakh metric tonnes which increased to 1.85 lakh hectare and 15.69 lakh metric tonnes respectively in year 2011-12.
Chhattisgarh has great prospects for horticulture crops as well. To explore this potential, State Government is providing every possible aid to the farmers for cultivation of fruits, vegetables and spices, officials stated. Area of cultivation for horticulture crops has increased by eight times in last 10 years. In year 2003-04, the total area under cultivation of horticulture crops was 92 thousand 176 hectare, which increased to 7 lakh 25 thousand 29 hectare in year 2013-14.
Agriculture has become an occupation of profit in Chhattisgarh. Adhering to the motto of ‘Prosperous farmers- Prosperous Chhattisgarh’, State Government led by Chief Minister Raman Singh has laid a strong foundation of all-round agricultural development in state. Several beneficial schemes have been started to reduce the general input cost of cultivation. Implementation of such schemes has resulted in improved socio-economic status of farmers. Number of schemes has also been started for farmers engaged in employment and extra-income generating practices like animal husbandry and fishery.
Development of agriculture cannot be imagined without irrigation facility. State Government has implemented special action plan to expand the irrigation capacity of state. Collective efforts of State Government have resulted in agricultural development along with significant improvement in lives of farmers. Chhattisgarh has bagged National Krishi Karman Award in year 2010 and year 2012 for highest production of rice. This proves that Chhattisgarh has actually become country’s ‘bowl of rice’.
Overall, the efforts of the Chhattisgarh Government to convince farmers to even grow fruits and vegetables had already started paying dividends, officials stated. The area under cultivation of vegetables has increased from 3.13 lakh hectares to 3.51 lakh hectare, while production from the same has increased from 3.69 lakh metric tonnes to 4.58 lakh metric tonnes so far, officials stated. This apart, under the scheme initiated to encourage small farmers engaged in vegetable cultivation on river banks, the State Government also provides subsidy of Rs4700 per 0.4 hectare.