New Delhi : Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini said the state’s culture and agriculture are closely linked, and that its farmers play a major part in filling the nation’s granaries through their hard work. He said this effort has given Haryana a distinct identity in agriculture.
He was speaking at the Krishi Sammelan at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. He said the dedication of Haryana’s farmers has made the state a leader in agriculture and added substantially to the country’s foodgrain reserves.
Government priorities
Saini said his government is working on farmers’ concerns, remunerative prices for produce, wider irrigation, water conservation, natural farming, soil health and crop diversification. The aim is to help farmers move beyond traditional cultivation and raise their incomes through modern technology, new crops and agriculture-based industries.
He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision has consistently focused on strengthening farmers’ finances. Under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme, small and marginal farmers get Rs 6,000 a year, which helps them pay for seeds, fertilisers and crop protection chemicals and reduces their dependence on others. The Centre and the Haryana government are jointly running several welfare schemes to cut cultivation costs and ensure fair prices.
Stronger irrigation
Responding to the Prime Minister’s call, Haryana is working to strengthen irrigation, Saini said.
- Work is under way on about 2,000 ponds under the Amrit Sarovar scheme. New ponds are being built and old ones rejuvenated to conserve rainwater and raise groundwater levels.
- Canals and drains are being repaired, rehabilitated and strengthened to prevent water wastage.
- A plan is being prepared to create clusters of 100, 200 and 500 acres with better irrigation. Each cluster will have a large storage reservoir that can meet roughly a month of irrigation needs. Solar-powered pumps will send water to fields through sprinkler systems, covering more land with less water and improving yields.
Renukaji, Kishau and Lakhwar dams
The Chief Minister said five states reached an agreement on the Renukaji, Kishau and Lakhwar dam projects under the leadership of Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Water from these projects will be available to Haryana, Delhi, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, strengthening future water availability. He said the government is working to manage natural water resources better so that future generations do not face shortages.
Guaranteed MSP procurement
Saini said Haryana is the first state in the country to guarantee procurement of all crops at the minimum support prices (MSP) fixed by the Prime Minister. This is meant to encourage crop diversification and reduce dependence on water-intensive crops such as paddy.
Natural farming
- An agreement has been reached with farmers in Morni block to procure naturally grown produce, grown without chemical fertilisers or pesticides, directly from their farms.
- Farmers’ interest is rising. According to the Chief Minister, more than 40 lakh farmers have registered about 1.5 lakh hectares on the natural farming portal, and around 45,000 hectares are currently under natural farming.
- Cultivable panchayat land and Agriculture Department land will be leased to farmers for 10 years for natural farming.
- The Haryana State Cooperative Supply and Marketing Federation (HAFED) will procure naturally grown foodgrains in mandis, after laboratory testing.
- The Bhavantar Bharpai Yojana helps horticulture farmers get fair market prices and gives them protection against losses.
- A special 2,000-acre cluster has been announced in Kurukshetra to promote natural farming.
Soil testing
Keeping soil fertile and cutting the excessive use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides are priorities, Saini said. Soil from farmers’ fields is being tested at district and block laboratories. Testing covering the land of about 40 to 45 lakh farmers helps determine how much fertiliser and pesticide each field needs.