Crop cluster centre will give good profits to farmers: Haryana CM

Tribune News Service

Karnal, December 27

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said the pack house would play an important role in promoting agricultural diversification and help government’s aim of doubling farmers income. Besides, it would also give employment opportunities to workers, the CM added.

Khattar was here at Taraori to inaugurate an integrated pack house-cum-crop cluster centre, set up at a cost of Rs 5.50 crore, in which tomatoes, bitter gourd, ghee and okra and other vegetables produced by farmers can be stored for a long time.

The pack will give good profits to farmers. With the construction of this pack house, a group of 272 farmers under the banner of the Farmer Product Organisation (FPO) will help in storage of vegetables grown on 600 to 700 acres.

“This is the seventh pack house of the state for which the government has given a loan of Rs 5.50 crore, on which a subsidy of Rs 4 crore will be given. Fifty more pack houses and crop cluster centres will be established in the state to encourage small farmers. This will increase farmers income,” the CM said.

“The pack house has facilities for washing, sorting, cleaning, packing and cold storage of vegetables, so these can be kept safe for a long time,” the CM added.

“For the prosperity of farmers, Kisan Samridhi Shivir is being organised by the Agriculture and allied departments. The Agriculture Horticulture, Fisheries and Animal Husbandry departments are participating in the shivir,” the CM said.

Accompanied by Agriculture Minister JP Dalal and others, the CM said, “The government has been constantly making efforts for the expansion of mandis.”

Khattar called upon farmers to cultivate other crops like fruits, flowers, vegetables instead of paddy. “Ground water is available in limited quantity,” the CM added.

Meanwhile, the CM launched the Haryana Pragatisheel Kisan Samman Yojana and Reclamation of Waterlogged and Saline Soil portal, on which farmers can register themselves and avail benefits. Registration has started on portal from today. The last date for registration is January 15. “To save it in future, we should leave paddy cultivation and grow other crops. Today, the government is also giving incentive amount of Rs 7,000 to farmers, who give up paddy cultivation and sow other crops,” the CM said.

Political motive behind farmers’ agitation

Taking a dig on the formation of party by farm leaders in Punjab, Khattar said he had said earlier that there was political motive behind this farmers’ agitation, which has been exposed. “In democracy, everyone has the right to contest elections, but now farmers have come to know about their motive,” the Chief Minister said.