Meagre ₹60 crore allocation for diversifying state’s crop pattern
₹10 CRORE ALLOCATED TO CONVERT 5 CITRUS ESTATES INTO HORTI ESTATES; ₹19.7 CRORE FOR BUILDING FACILITY FOR WASHING, GRADING, AND PACKING OF FRUITS AND VEGETABLES
CHANDIGARH: In a total budget allocation of ₹13,643 crore for agriculture, an increase of ₹159 crore (just over 1%), the finance minister Manpreet Singh Badal has allocated a meagre ₹60 crore for crop diversification. The idea is to shift 10 lakh hectare crop area under paddy to other crops; 27 lakh hectare goes under paddy cultivation during kharif season. Paddy is a major contributor to the fall in subsoil water level.
The government also plans to give funds from the centre’s national horticulture mission. Experts have said that the funds would go waste if the government tried to distribute it to a section of farmers only. Of ₹447 crore allocated to support crops other than wheat and paddy, a major portion, ₹355 crore, has been allocated for the sugarcane grower.
To convert five citrus estates into horticulture estates, ₹10 crore have been allocated. Another ₹2 crore is meant to increase area under potato seed production, ₹19.7 crore for building facility for washing, grading, and packing of fruits and vegetables. For development of agriculture, ₹200 crore has been allocated under Rashtirya Krishi Vikas Yojana. For upgrade of soil health laboratories, ₹5.5 crore has been allocated.
₹3,000 CR FOR DEBT WAIVER OF LANDLESS LABOURERS
For the first time, the Punjab government has announced brining landless farm labourers under the ambit of debt waiver with ₹3,000 crore set aside for this; ₹4,736 crore debt waiver has been given to 5.83 lakh small and marginal farmers.
The cooperation department estimates that there are 2.6 lakh landless labourers, who are covered under government policy and are under a debt of ₹450 crore. A Punjab Agricultural University states that of 15 lakh farm labourers, 84% are under an average debt of ₹91,000.
The area under sugarcane has been stagnant between 95,000 and 1 lakh hectare. Sugar mills in the cooperative and private sector have been defaulting in timely payment of State Advised Price (SAP) to cane growers. Most plans will
SEEKS WORLD BANK HELP TO CHECK FALLING WATER TABLE
Raising worries for desertification of Punjab, the finance minister added 76% of blocks in the state were overexploited as far as ground water level is concerned.
“To deal with the situation, Punjab government is in talks with the World Bank for proper management of resources, both ground and surface and the promotion of reformed agriculture,” he added.