हिंदी
Haryana establishes 41 demonstration plots to help the farmers learn about the best agriculture practices for getting a good yield of their crops.
Chandigarh, July 22- Haryana Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Department has established 41 demonstration plots over 41 acres in the eight blocks targeted under the ‘Mera Pani – Meri Virasat’ scheme, which is aimed at protecting the depleting groundwater table in the State through crop diversification.
While stating this here today, Additional Chief Secretary, Agriculture, and Farmers’ Welfare Department, Mr. Sanjeev Kaushal, said that eleven demonstration plots covering two different varieties of maize have been established in blocks Guhla and Siwan. Similarly, demonstration plots showcasing two varieties of cotton have been established in block Sirsa, whereas three varieties of maize are being showcased in five such plots in block Ratia. In blocks Pipli, Shahabad, Babain, and Ismailabad, seven varieties of maize are being cultivated in 20 demonstration plots.
The demonstration plots, established over one acre each, are helping the farmers learn about the best agriculture practices for getting a good yield of their crop. The farmers are also being provided with information about more efficient methods of irrigation. This would not only help them increase their livelihood but would also help reduce the pressure on the groundwater table, he added.
Under the ‘Mera Pani – Meri Virasat’ scheme, farmers in the water-stressed blocks Ratia (district Fatehabad), Siwan and Guhla (district Kaithal), Pipli, Shahabad, Babain and Ismailabad (district Kurukshetra) and Sirsa (district Sirsa) are being encouraged to cultivate alternate crops, namely maize, bajra, cotton, pulses, and horticultural crops, instead of paddy.
More than one lakh farmers have so far enrolled under the scheme, under which the State Government would provide an incentive of Rs. 7,000 per acre to farmers in lieu of diversification of paddy to other crops, apart from bearing 100 percent of the cost of insuring alternate crops. All diversified crops such as maize, bajra, and pulses would be procured by the Government at Minimum Support Price (MSP). Farmers in the rest of the State would also be eligible for availing benefits under this scheme if they replace their paddy area with alternate crops.
