New Year Gift for Farmers, Agriculture Minister releases Rs. 90 crore as drought relief bonus

Haryana Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister, Sh. Shyam Singh Rana, has given a New Year gift to the state’s paddy farmers by releasing Rs. 90 crore as bonus for drought relief. After releasing the bonus online from his office, he held a pre-budget discussion with officers of agriculture, horticulture, and other allied departments.

The Agriculture Minister directed the officers to make comprehensive plans for the upcoming budget and emphasized drafting plans focused on the holistic welfare of farmers. He directed them to prioritize the procurement of all 24 crops at the Minimum Support Price (MSP) fixed by the central government.

Under immediate relief measures, an amount of Rs. 2,000 per acre has been disbursed to farmers as part of the drought relief scheme announced by Chief Minister, Sh. Nayab Singh Saini, amounting to Rs. 90 crore. This initiative aims to support paddy farmers facing adverse climatic conditions.

During the meeting, the Minister reviewed the implementation of various government schemes and stressed creating awareness among farmers about welfare initiatives launched by the central and state governments.

He directed officers to present the status report of departmental commitments and ensure timely implementation of announced schemes. Direct subsidy transfers for agricultural equipment should be expedited to enable farmers to purchase machinery from the open market, he said.

Furthermore, the Officers of the Haryana State Agricultural Marketing Board were directed to enhance facilities for farmers and labourers in agricultural markets. The Minister urged them to promote the National Agriculture Market (e-NAM) to modernize the marketing system, enabling farmers to sell their produce online across India.

Sh. Shyam Singh Rana further said that village panchayats taking initiatives to prevent stubble burning will be encouraged with cash awards. He was apprised that strict action is being taken against those selling fake seeds, pesticides, and fertilizers to prevent economic losses to farmers.

Sh. Shyam Singh Rana said that Haryana is the only state that provides an incentive of Rs. 1,000 per acre to farmers who avoid stubble burning. Additionally, subsidized agricultural equipment is being distributed to manage crop residues effectively.

The Minister said that the state government aims to empower farmers, ensuring transparency in subsidy distribution, and creating an environmentally sustainable agricultural environment.