CHANDIGARH: While assuring the farmers that every grain of their produce would be purchased by the State Government, the Haryana Chief Minister, Manohar Lal today announced a significant increase in the numbers of mandis and purchase centres for the procurement of mustard and wheat commencing from April 15 and April 20, 2020 respectively.
He said that with a view to purchase the farmers’ produce in a staggered way, the number of mandis and purchase centres for the procurement of wheat has been increased from 477 to 2000 and for the procurement of mustard these have been increased from 67 to 140.
He said that the State Government has also written to the Central Government requesting that holding incentive be given to those farmers who would delay taking their produce to the mandis. “I am quite hopeful that the Centre Government would soon take a favourable decision on it”, he added.
While referring to the Meri Fasal Mera Byora Scheme, the Chief Minister said that though the State Government has completed the registration of farmers in the State, the Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare has been directed to re-open the registration for those farmers who could not get their registration done earlier due to any reason. Such farmers could register themselves on the portal upto April 19, 2020, he added. He assured that the payment to the farmers would be made into their bank accounts through Arhtiyas within 24 hours of procurement of their produce. He said that the government would purchase the mustard crop on MSP and there would be no limit on the procurement of mustard crop in the mandis.
He urged them to maintain social distancing and use masks while taking their produce to the mandis so as to prevent themselves from being affected from the Corona virus. He said that masks would be made available in the mandis and purchase centres.
He said that three-month ration under the Public Distribution System (PDS) has already reached the depots in the State and all the Pink, Yellow and Khaki card holders could get double ration free of cost. This ration also includes sugar and mustard oil. He said apart from this, the State Government has decided that from now onward, the Above Poverty Line (APL) card holders could also get ration from the depot on low rates as compared to the market rates. He said that even the non-cardholders could also get ration from the depot.
In reply to a question, the Chief Minister said that smooth movement of machinery like tractor and combine harvester would be ensured in the State during harvesting season. However, necessary medical tests of manpower coming with this machinery would also be conducted . He said that apart from about 4,500 combine harvester machines in Haryana, harvester machines from Maharashtra and Punjab have reached the State.
Source: indiatimes.com