Government puts Agriculture Sector on Fast Track

The Government has taken a number of initiatives to boost agriculture production, develop high quality seeds, increase storage capacity and steps to reach the benefits of various research works from lab to land. Speaking to media persons yesterday, Union Agriculture Minister, Shri Radha Mohan Singh enumerated various initiatives taken by Government since its formation in May 2014. The Government has launched Rastriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) to promote use of organic farming and reduce dependence on chemical inputs, the minister said. Making a mention of Soil Health Card Scheme, he said that these cards will be issued to 3 crore farmers during current year and 5.5 crore cards each during next two years. Also 100 mobile soil testing laboratories will be made available during the current year, he added. Shri Singh said that during August 2014, 5 new customised fertilizers have been approved, so that farmers may get required nutrients for their fields. Mentioning initiatives in Horticulture Sector, Shri Singh said that with the launch of Saffron Park recently at Pampore (J&K), facility for processing packaging, e-auction of saffron will be available. Under a new initiative named ‘Chaman’ the horticulture crops would be mapped through remote sensing (Satellites). He further said that under Indo Dutch Cooperation project ‘centre of excellence’ have been approved in Jalandhar (Punjab), Baramati (Maharashtra), Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala), which would develop modern technique for fruits and vegetables. Shri Radha Mohan Singh said that under National Agroforestry Policy 2014 a platform will be provided to stimulate component of farming system which will lead to meeting the ever increasing demand of timber, food, fuel, fodder, fertilizer, fibre and other agroforestry products; conserving the natural resources and forest; protecting the environment & providing environmental security; and increasing the forest/tree cover. Shri Singh further added that Government have also taken all possible steps to meet the challenge of drought and have announced a subsidy of 50% in diesel, seeds, where 50% rainfall deficit has been reported. An additional allocation of Rs. 700 crore under Mission of Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) during current year for availability of fodder has been made, he added. In addition, waiver of duty on import of de-oiled soya extract, groundnut oil cake, sunflower oil cake, canola oil meal, mustard oil cake, rice bran and palm kernel cake to increase availability of feed ingredients will also be given, he said. Elaborating the initiative taken in marketing sector, Shri Singh said Central Government has advised State Governments to keep fruits and vegetables out of the purview of Mandi regulations so as to bring down their prices. Process has already been started to set up ‘Kisan Mandi’ marketing sector, he added. A new scheme is proposed to be started in consultation with the State Government to provide insurance cover to production, productivity and farmers’ income. Shri Singh said that Government has also started giving information online regarding the registration of Multi State Cooperative Committees. In order to give better information facility about 30.5 crore agricultural messages were sent to farmers through SMS portal, he said. Mentioning initiative in crops and seeds development sector the Minister said that pulse production under National Food Security Mission (NFSM) in all districts of J&K, Himachal Pradesh and Uttrakhand, Coarse cereals production under NFSM in entire North-Eastern Region (excluding Assam) has been made effective. Shri Singh said that 48 high quality seeds for various crops [foodgrains (34), pulses (6) oilseeds (4), fodder (2), sugarcane (2)] have been issued and notified. Shri Radha Mohan Singh said that Central Government have taken various steps to boost milk production and develop better breeds of bovine. There is 199 million bovine population in India, which constitutes 14% of total bovine population in the world. Out of this 83% are desi cows. The bovine genetic resource of India is represented by 37 well-recognised indigenous breeds of cattle and 13 breeds of buffaloes. The potential to enhance the productivity of the indigenous breeds through professional farm management and superior nutrients, as well as gradation of indigenous bovine germplasm will be done with an outlay of Rs, 500 crores, he added. Shri Singh said that National Kamdhenu Breeding Centre is being set up to protect indigenous breeds. Nucleus herd will be set up to increase productivity and to ensure genetic advancement of 37 cow breeding, 13 buffaloes breeds. In order to promote Agri Rail Network for transportation of milk, orders have been placed by AMUL and NDDB on behalf of Dairy Cooperative Federation for procurement of 36 new Rail Milk Tankers and will be made available by railways. This will help in movement of milk from milk surplus areas to areas of demand providing dairy farmers with greater market area, he said. Under a new initiative of National Blue Revolution the Government will fill in the critical gaps such as fish seed and feed and introduce new technology like cage culture and re-circulatory aquaculture systems. This will be ensured by participation of fishermen societies, cooperative bodies, scheduled castes and scheduled tribes and more importantly women, and thereby make the National Blue Revolution an inclusive process, he said. Elaborating the initiative taken by Department of Agriculture Research and Education (DARE), Shri Singh said that two institutes of excellence on the pattern of Indian Agriculture Research Institute, Pusa, will be set up in the States of Assam and Jharkhand. An Agriculture University in Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan and Horticulture university in Telangana and Haryana will be set up, he said. During the year 2014 in order to benefit farmers with latest agriculture technology two Krishi Vigyan Kendras have been established in the districts of Baksa in Assam and Ramgarh in Jharkhand. Also, Indian Institute of Biotechnology at Ranchi has been inaugurated during last week with a view to promote organic farming in that region, he added.