1387 lakh rupees were made available to the farmers as grant

Effective implementation of various schemes being implemented by Himachal Pradesh Agriculture Department is being ensured to strengthen the economy of the farmers in the district.

Agriculture Deputy Director Dr. Kuldeep Dhiman says that in the district, the Agriculture Department is providing seeds of various improved varieties on subsidy to increase the crop yield of the farmers.

Giving information about the seeds made available by the department under various schemes during the ongoing financial year, Dr. Kuldeep Dhiman says that 1786 quintal wheat seed, 2246 quintal maize seed, 127.6 quintal paddy seed and crop diversification in the district. 1742 quintal potato, 2052 quintal peas and 45.28 quintal seeds of various vegetables have been made available on subsidy. Under this, about 38 thousand farmers in the district have been benefitted by providing a grant of Rs 245 lakh.

He also informs that 5600 asafoetida plants and 27.6 quintals of saffron seed tubers have been made available to the farmers as an innovative initiative in the district. 139 farmers of the district have been benefited by this.

Mechanization is being promoted to reduce the cost of farmers’ crop production and to make the work related to agriculture easy. Dr. Dhiman says that under the State Agricultural Mechanization Scheme and the Centrally Sponsored Scheme, in the district for the financial year 2022- During 23, farmers have been given a grant of about 165 lakh rupees on 13 tractors, 390 power weeders, 199 brush cutters.

He further informs that 80 maize threshers, 90 grass cutters (toka), 688 tool kits and 900 seed storage drums are being made available to the farmers on subsidy. On all these equipment, the farmers will get Rs 32 lakh till March 31, 2023. A grant of Rs.

Along with this, a grant of Rs 73.29 lakh was given to 49 farmers for making polyhouses under the Chief Minister’s Nutan Polyhouse Project to promote the off-season vegetable production sector to provide more strength to the farmers’ economy through cash crops. Under the Mukhyamantri Khet Sanrakshan Yojana, there is a provision of 70 percent subsidy for farmers to install compound fencing for solar fencing to protect crops from wild animals and stray animals. During the financial year 2022-23, a grant of Rs 54.20 lakh was made available to the farmers of the district for setting up 22 solar fences under this scheme. Along with this, 77 farmers were also provided with the facility of anti-hail nets with a grant of Rs. 57.10 lakh to protect their crops from hailstorm.

Similarly, under various irrigation schemes of the department, till March 31, 2023, about 410 lakh rupees were spent on the construction of irrigation pipes, wells, irrigation tanks etc.

Dr. Kuldeep Dhiman also says that the year 2023 is being celebrated as the International Year of Nutritious Cereals. That’s why all the farmers must cultivate nutritious grains in at least one or 2 fields in their fields and follow these to stay healthy. Include grains in your diet as well.

He says that agricultural training and awareness camps are being organized in the district to ensure that the farmers are promoted about the new techniques of agriculture and various public welfare schemes being implemented by the department. Arrangements are being made under a special action plan to further promote natural farming techniques.

So far, 14,130 farmers of the district are doing natural farming in an area of ​​about 1646 hectares. For the convenience of the farmers, about Rs 1387 lakhs have been made available as grant by the department to the farmers of the district under various agricultural schemes.