Nearly 1.2K farmers switch to alternative crops in Karnal

Parveen Arora

Karnal, June 24

The “Mera Pani Meri Virasat” initiative of the state government is getting a good response in paddy growing Karnal district as around 1,200 farmers have shunned paddy crop and switched to alternative crops like maize, arhar, moong, oilseeds and vegetables by registering themselves for these crops with the agriculture and horticulture departments.

With an aim to shifting the farmers to other crops from paddy, the state government had launched the “Mera Pani Meri Virasat” scheme, under which farmers are given Rs 7,000 per acre for adopting alternative crops instead of paddy. They have to register themselves on the portal of the department and later after verification, the farmers are given incentive.

Both Agriculture and Horticulture Departments were given a target to switch 5,600 acres of paddy land to other alternative crops. Out of its target of 4,350 acres, the Agriculture Department has so far achieved success in converting 3851 acres to other crops, while of its target of 1,250 acres, the Horticulture Department got converted 509 acres to other crops.

“We have achieved a target of 89 per cent and are hopeful we will achieve the remaining target before the deadline of June 30,” said Aditya Dabas, Deputy Director Agriculture (DDA).

Farmers of the Assandh block are showing more interest in this initiatve as 1,080 acres have been shifted to other crops against the target of 850 acres. The Gharaunda block has switched 550 acres to other alternative crops against its target of 825 acres. Nilokheri has shifted 463 acres against the target of 710 acres to other crops, according to data.

The data further stated that against the target of 720 acres, the Karnal block had switched 415 acres, while Indri had surpassed its target by switching 593 acres against the target of 525 acres. Nissing had also surpassed the target by switching 750 acres against its target of 720 acres.

Shift from paddy

The state govt had launched “Mera Pani Meri Virasat” scheme, under which farmers are given Rs 7,000 per acre for adopting alternative crops instead of paddy. They have to register themselves on the portal of the department and later after verification, the farmers are given incentive