Himachal Govt withdraws Direct Bank Transfer scheme for pesticides

Subhash Rajta

Shimla, July 29

Like in the past, apple growers will again be able to purchase subsidised pesticides from the Horticulture Department outlets shortly. The state government has withdrawn the Direct Bank Transfer (DBT) scheme, which required apple growers to buy pesticides from market and then apply for reimbursement. It has issued orders restoring the old scheme.

Meagre subsidy

• The two major reasons for the failure of the DBT scheme were the meagre subsidy amount it offered and the formalities the growers had to complete
• To get the subsidy, the growers had to buy scheduled pesticides from empanelled companies and then upload bills along with forms and revenue papers/ Udyan card on the e-Udyan portal

“We have started the process to procure pesticides and sell it through Horticulture Department outlets. We have started collecting data about demand and have initiated the process to finalise rate/contract. Once it’s finalised, we will start procuring pesticides and sell these to the growers,” said Kirti Sinha, Senior Plant Protection Officer, Horticulture Department, here today.

An apple grower said, “The restoration of subsidised pesticides was one of our demands in the 20-point charter submitted to the government. The decision to withdraw the DBT scheme will boost the morale of the fruit growers ahead of the planned protest in front of the Secretariat on August 5.”

The DBT scheme started last year received a poor response from the apple growers. The two major reasons for its failure were the meagre subsidy amount it offered and the formalities the growers had to complete. A grower could claim a subsidy of Rs 4,000 per hectare for temperate fruits such as apple and pear, and Rs 2,000 per hectare for sub-tropical fruits such as mango and guava. To avail of the subsidy, the growers had to buy pesticides mentioned in the spray schedule of the Horticulture Department from empanelled companies and then upload bills along with forms and revenue papers/Udyan card on the e-Udyan portal.

As the scheme evoked a poor response from the growers, the Horticulture Department sent a proposal to the government to enhance the subsidy amount to make it useful. “The Finance Department raised several queries and objections to the proposal,” said a senior official.