Haryana Chief Minister Launches Agricultural Support Initiatives and Discusses Farmer Welfare

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal marked the 50th interaction with farmers by initiating a special discussion program aimed at addressing their concerns. During this session, the Chief Minister announced a novel scheme wherein the government will provide mortgages for rotavators and potato-sowing machines, encompassing foreign exchange for seven days. In a significant move, the government acknowledged the challenges faced by farmers affected by floods, ensuring that they too are included in the scheme. The compensation of Rs 10,000 per farmer was provided to those severely impacted by natural disasters, with a total loss estimate of Rs 11,000 crores incurred by farmers thus far. The current administration surpassed its predecessor's efforts, as only Rs 269 crores were allocated by the previous government over a decade, whereas the present government disbursed Rs 1158 crores. 

 The Chief Minister also highlighted the 15th instalment of the Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana, released by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This instalment amounted to Rs 175 crore, benefiting 8 lakh 70 thousand farmers in the state. Discussions during the program extended to stubble management, acknowledging farmers who contributed to making Haryana a model state in this regard. The Chief Minister commended their efforts, emphasising the Haryana government's commitment to supporting farmers from seed sowing to crop marketing. Addressing the flood-affected populace, the Chief Minister detailed the impact of floods in July, affecting 1469 villages and 4 cities in 12 districts.

 A dedicated portal was launched to compensate for losses caused by natural disasters, and a distribution system for affected individuals was established. The number of affected people surpassed 100 crores, with Rs 112 crore 21 lakhs allocated after July 2023. This included information on 97 crore 93 lakh provided to 34,511 farmers who suffered losses. To promote water conservation, the government introduced the Mera Paani-Meri Virasat Yojana, offering a grant of Rs 7,000 per kilogram to other enterprises in the paddy sector. The initiative has provided financial assistance totalling Rs 118 crores to date. Additionally, the government has established 6794 Custom Hiring Centers since 2018, offering over 80 thousand crop management equipment to farmers with subsidies ranging from 50 to 80 per cent.

The comprehensive initiatives showcased the government's commitment to addressing various aspects of agricultural challenges and promoting sustainable farming practices.