Budget-Agriculture

Headline: New mandis to be set up, focus on increasing farm income

Highlights

-The state government proposes to frame a policy to permit commercial hemp cultivation with proper regulatory framework

-An expert group to be set up to prepare action plan to rationalise and restructure existing schemes for doubling farmers’ income

Bhanu P Lohumi

Tribune News Service

Shimla, March 6

Several attractive schemes like the setting up of new mandis, implementation of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) project in all districts, boosting of natural farming with a focus on doubling farmer’s income are the highlights of the Himachal Budget for farm sector for 2021-22, which was presented under the shadow of farmers’ protests against “agri laws”.

To dispel the notion that Agriculture Produce Marketing Committees (APMC) will be scrapped, the government has announced the opening of three new mandis at Mehndali and Shilarooin in Shimla and Bandrol in Kullu. Besides, expansion and upgrade of 20 existing mandis, modernisation of 10 additional mandis and linking of 10 more mandis with ‘E-NAM System’ at a cost of Rs 200 crore has also been planned. This is in addition to 63 mandis operational in the state.

The extension of the Rs-1,055 crore Japan Government-assisted JICA project for Forest Ecosystems Management and Livelihoods Improvement in all districts, diversification of crops, preparatory activities including finalisation of 60 DPRs, capacity-building of farmers is the crux of the Budget.

As many as 50,000 more farmers will be covered under the Subhash Palekar Natural Farming System under Prakritik Kheti Khushhaal Kissan Scheme. One lakh farmer families will be made aware of the benefits of natural farming, besides being registered and certified for facilitating marketing of their produce. A sum of Rs 20 crore has been provided for it.

The “Swaran Jayanti Paramparagat Beej Suraksha Samvardhan Yojana” envisaging conservation and propagation of traditional seeds and linking propagation of seeds of 78 local Pahari pulses, traditional grains and off-season vegetables with the market will be launched.

A “Research and Development Fund” would be created for agriculture and horticulture universities with an initial corpus fund of Rs 5 crore each. To facilitate floriculturists to sell their produce in Krishi Mandi, appropriate addition would be made in the Schedule of HP Agricultural, Horticultural Produce Marketing (Development and Regulation) Act, 2005.

A project of 100 million US dollars is being implemented to boost horticulture farming in the sub-tropical areas of the state. High density, good quality plants will be provided to farmers at affordable prices. Subsidy will continue on anti-hail nets under the Krishi Utpad Sanrakshan Yojana (KUSHY) and an outlay of Rs 60 crore has been announced for this scheme while the total outlay for horticulture sector is Rs 543 crore for 2021-22.

Import of five lakh root stocks, minor irrigation facilities for 8,000 hectares command area, establishment of Gene Repository at Dr YS Parmar University, Nauni, completion of work of CA stores and Pack Houses at Jarol Tikker, Rohru, Oddi, Patlikuhal and Tutupani and setting up of an apple juice concentrate plant at Parala, Shimla, will be undertaken under a Rs 1,000-crore World Bank-funded Horticulture Development Project.

A State Bee Board would be set up to encourage beekeeping activities.

The Chief minister announced the increase of Rs 2 per litre on procurement price of milk, specialised high-quality services to dairy farmers, modernisation of three zonal hospitals and 10 veterinary polyclinics, developing sheep breeding centres of Taal and Jeori and developing cow breeding centres at Palampur and Bagthan as fodder production centres.

A modern fish market and allied infrastructure will be developed for fishermen at Gobind Sagar and Pong reservoirs for better marketing and one ornamental fish unit each will be set up in Shimla and Kangra.