Khattar for crop diversification, assures ‘no-loss’ in farming

Vishal Joshi

Tribune News Service

Shahabad Markanda (Kurukshetra), July 22

Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Sunday said the present agriculture reforms were conducive for crop diversification.

At ‘Surajmukhi Dhan Kisan Dhanyawad Rally’ organised to laud the Central Government’s farm reforms, Khattar said the government had floated a policy to ensure no-loss in the agriculture sector. He laid stress on optimum use of natural resources in the farm sector.

“Now, we have a programme where a farmer will get assured 50 per cent extra on the cost of production on all crops, including pulses. Farmers sow water-guzzling paddy due to assured profit due to the minimum support price (MSP). Whereas, the south Haryana is facing a chronic problem of water shortage. Farmers in the paddy belt should now switch over to horticulture or other crops as the government scheme rules out of losses under any condition,” said the CM.

Khattar said the state government had decided to procure entire crop of sunflower seeds as a permanent policy.

He said the government procured oilseed on behalf of the Central Government but the growers would get better prices even the Centre had a limited requirement.

“Processing units will be established in Haryana to use every grain of sunflower purchased in the state on the MSP. Assured sunflower purchase will continue in the state,” said the CM.

Quoting the World Bank-backed ‘Ease of Doing Business’ ratings, Khattar said Haryana had emerged as the most preferred choice for the investors in north India.

He said the good governance and transparency in the government functioning was major success of the BJP regime in the state.

“More than 26,000 persons have been given jobs during our regime in the complete transparent manner. Let anyone produce any evidence of bribery in securing government jobs, I assure action against the erring person,” said Khattar.

He claimed as the BJP had ended casteism in the electoral politics in Haryana, the opposition parties were indulged in levelling baseless allegations against the state government, including neglecting farmers’ issues and promoting caste politics.

Police detain BKU activists

Kurukshetra: The district police on Sunday rounded up more than 60 activists of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Haryana). The organisation had threatened to hold a protest during the CM’s public rally at Shahabad town. Sources said the BKU activists were taken into preventive custody at the Babain police station. The BKU has been protesting against the delay in due clearances of sugarcane growers. The organisation had announced to boycott Khattar’s rally by showing him black flags in protest. — TNS