Centre approves Rs 13.33 cr for agricultural development in HP

[S.Annadana]

Centre approves Rs 13.33 cr for agricultural development in HP

Shimla, June 16: The Union Governement has approved Rs 13.33 crore for development of agriculture in Himachal Pradesh, for the current year official sources said on Monday.

The money has been approved under macro management of agriculture for the current year, State Director of Agriculture J C Rana said in a statement.

He said among other things Rs 3.86 crore has been approved for crop improvement programme, Rs 1.78 crore for agriculture mechanization, Rs 2.46 crore for integrated nutrient management, Rs 3 crore for watershed development programme.

For water conservation/harvesting and lifting Rs 1.52 core has been earmarked, Rs 29 lakh for organic farming and Rs40.25 lakh for crop diversification.

In order to increase productivity high yielding seeds are also being provided, he said.

Subsidy of Rs 600 on maize, Rs 800 on pulses and Rs 200 on paddy per quintal is being provided, Rana said further.

He said the department is promoting organic farming through large scale production of vermicompost for which vermiculite is being provided free of cost.

For increasing farm income and providing farm employment, he said ATMA (Agriculture Technology Management Agency) programme has been extended to all districts. Rs 4.41crore has been earmarked for this programme in order to transfer latest technology to the farmers, he said further.

A target of 16.38 lakh tonne of foodgrains have been fixed for 2008-09 out of which target for current kharif is 9.15 lakh tonne, he said further.

Bureau Report