Haryana to give subsidy on sunflower seed

Chandigarh, Jan 14 (UNI) In order to promote the cultivation of sunflower crop, the Haryana Agriculture Department has decided to give subsidy amounting to Rs 100 per kg or 50 per cent of the cost of the hybrid sunflower seed to the farmers under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojna.

A sum of Rs one crore has been earmarked for this purpose during the current financial year.

While stating this here today, Agriculture Minister Harmohinder Singh Chatha said that this assistance of Rs one crore would cover 20,000 hectares of area requiring 1000 quintals hybrid seeds. Good quality hybrid seed was the single most important ingredient to provide impetus to sunflower cultivation.

Hybrid seed of sunflower available with private sector companies costs Rs 250 per kg. Five kg seed was required for covering one hectare of area.

The Minister said the subsidy would be available on certified as well as truthfully labeled seed of identified high yielding hybrid of sunflower developed by both public sector as well as private sector companies. Further, subsidy would be admissible on hybrid seed purchased by the farmers from Government agencies as well as private traders, he added.

He said sunflower was a short duration crop as it takes 90 to 100 days to mature and gives good return to the farmers if sown timely from January 15 to February 15. Huge potential of sunflower cultivation exists in the state.

Subsidy of Rs 1200 per quintal was also available under the Integrated Scheme of Oil Seed Pulses and Maize for the cultivation of sunflower crop.

Mr Chatha said that sunflower was an important oilseed crop next to mustard. It contains about 40 per cent high quality oil and high amount of quality protein in cake.

Farmers can harvest a good crop and a yield of 25 quintals per hectare can be obtained if improved package of practices for its cultivation is adopted by the farmers, he added.

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