Haryana launches new scheme to boost organic farming

[S.Annadana]

Haryana launches new scheme to boost organic farming

CHANDIGARH: Haryana Horticulture Department has launched a new scheme to develop and promote the organic farming in the State.

Disclosing this here Monday the Horticulture Minister, Harmohinder Singh Chatha said that under this scheme an amount of Rs 34 lakh would be spent in the current financial year to encourage the farmers to adopt organic farming system and to educate them about the vermin-compost unit, organic farming and their certification.

Chatha said that this scheme would cover the non -National Horticulture Mission districts of the State which were Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Jind, Rewari and Mohindergarh. This scheme was already operational in the 15 National Horticulture Mission districts of the State, he added.

He said that the Department would provide 50 per cent of assistance to the farmers who would take up organic farming at the rate of Rs 10,000 per hectare and it would be limited to 4 hectares per beneficiaries.

He said that to encourage the farmers to start the vermin-compost unit an assistance of 50 per cent at the rate of Rs 30,000 per unit would also be provided. He said that in order to smoothen the process of organic certification, 100 per cent subsidy would be provided to a group of farmers covering an area of 25 hectares.

Agriculture Minister said that it was high time to promote organic based production to minimize the excessive use of the organic fertilizer and to educate the farmers and the field staff regarding control of insect, pest and diseases created by organic means.

He stressed that it was important to improve the health and economic status of the rural masses and to keep the environment, soil and water free from pollution of inorganic matter, which were harmful for human and animal being.