Farmers demand hike in paddy procurement target in Koraput

Officials said the state government had fixed the procurement taret for an acre of non-irrigated area at 12 quintals against the farmers's demand for 18 quintals.

"Last year, we had sold 20 quintals of paddy from an acre of irrigated land and 18 quintals from an acre of non-irrigated land. This year, the government has fixed the limit at 18 and 12 quintal for irrigated and non-irrigated land respectively, which is not acceptable," said Secretary of Zilla Krushaka Kalyan Mancha Narendra Pradhan.

As the mandis opened yesterday, the farmers alleged that by lowering the limit of paddy to be procured from non-irrigated land, the government has created a situation where distress sale can occur as they would be left with huge quantity of produce.

"We are demanding a revision in the target. No farmers will sale their produce at the mandis if the demand is not fulfilled. We'll intensify the agitation, if the government ignores our demand," Pradhan said.

Official sources said the government has fixed the procurement target at 40,000 MT for the kharif season and opened 17 mandis across the district.

"The procurement target for irrigated and non-irrigated land has been fixed by the state government and it is beyond our jurisdiction to revise it. We have apprised the district administration of the demand," said Civil Supplies Officer (Koraput) Pitambar Acharya.

Source: Chhattisgarh News in Hindi and MP News in Hindi

Need good quality seeds to make farming beneficial: Harish Rawat

Inaugurating the Krishak Mahotsav 2014 here  Rawat said availability of good quality seeds to farmers, use of modern and cheaper farming techniques and helping farmers get the right price for their produce are three focus areas identified by the state government to promote agriculture in the state.

Setting a target for the agriculture department, he said at least 100 farmers in every block be registered as seed producers and a few as nursery producers.

Production of plants should also be encouraged as business.
 
To make farming beneficial, at least 80 percent farmers in plains and 33 percent in hills must be provided with modern seeds over the next two years to enhance their productivity and also the quality of their produce, Rawat said here on Tuesday.

Under the 'Humare Ped Humara Dhan’ scheme, planting of fodder and fruit producing trees is also being promoted, he said.

The need is to develop fruit markets, Rawat added.

To provide a market to fruits produced in the state, orders have been issued to include 10 percent fruit content in local liquor, he said.
  
Putting emphasis on mechanical farming, the Chief Minister said he was not averse to increasing the subsidy on farming equipment if the need for doing so is felt.
  
However, in comparison to other states, Uttarakhand is getting more subsidies in farming equipment and other areas, he said.

Claiming that the state government is sensitive to the problems of farmers, he said a pension scheme for them has been launched.
  
The Chief Minister also said the government will provide assistance for improving the condition of old poly houses.

Source: MP News in Hindi and Chhattisgarh Hindi News