Haryana targets to produce 51.26 lakh tonnes Kharif grains

Chandigarh, Apr 11 (UNI) Haryana has set a target to produce 51.26 lakh tonnes of foodgrains during Kharif (winter crop) 2008, an increase of 4.5 per cent over the actual production of 49.03 lakh tonnes of foodgrains during Kharif 2007.

A decision to this effect was taken in a meeting of the State level Coordination Committee for Agricultural Production, which met here today under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda.

The Kharif 2008 would include rice-37.27 lakh tonnes, Jawar 50,000 tonnes, Bajra 12.02 lakh tonnes, Maize 53,000 tonnes and Kharif pulses 94,000 tonnes. A target has been fixed to produce 22.94 lakh bales of cotton as against achievement of 18.85 lakh bales produced last year.

While reviewing availability and consumption of fertilizers during Kharif 2008, Mr Hooda said that he has written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar to seek their intervention in timely supply of DAP fertilizer to the State.

Mr Hooda also directed the State Agriculture Department to set up its own flying squads to check the quality of agricultural inputs like seeds, fertilizers and pesticides.

The Chief Minister stressed that preventive measures be taken to check the menace of mealy bug in case of Bt cotton so that the farmers may not suffer loss.

Mr Hooda directed Power utilities to ensure supply of power to tubewells for five-and-a-half-hours daily.

It was informed that short-term power arrangement has been tied up for supply of adequate power from June to August this year.

It was observed that State would achieve the target of producing 100.57 lakh tonnes of wheat during Rabi 2007-08 season despite less rainfall during the season and unseasonal rainfall and hailstorm in some areas of the State at the time of maturity of the crop.

The state expects production of 100.57 lakh tonnes of wheat, 1.12 lakh tonnes of gram, 1.23 lakh tonnes of barley, 6,000 tonnes of Rabi pulses.

It was also informed that the State Agriculture Department has decided to implement certain special programmes. These included promotion of Summer Moong by giving subsidy of Rs 30 per kg on its seed.

A total of 6,000 quintals of seed would be supplied to the farmers on subsidised rate. The Department is also promoting green manure by using Daincha seed, which will be given free of cost to the farmers.

As many as 2.60 lakh acres of area will be covered under Daincha crop during Kharif 2008 as against 1.30 lakh acres covered during last year, thus showing an increase of 100 per cent.

While reviewing the sowing of Saathi paddy (summer paddy), the Chief Minister stressed that the farmers should be educated and motivated to desist from sowing this water guzzling crop. He appreciated that area under this crop has reduced considerably in the districts of Fatehabad, Kaithal, Kurukshetra and Karnal.

Director Agriculture, Ms Sumita Misra said that Deputy Commissioners have been urged to launch a campaign against sowing of Saathi paddy in their respective areas.

Regarding certified seeds, it was informed that over 1.80 lakh quintals of seed would be available for Kharif 2008 as against actual requirement of over 1.15 lakh quintals. During Kharif 2007, as many as 91,700 quintals of certified seed were sold to the farmers.

While revieweing the issue of crop loans, it was observed that a target has been fixed to give Rs 2,875 crore as crop loan during Kharif 2008 as against Rs 2,390 crore during Kharif 2007.

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