Rane offers slew of subsidies to boost agriculture

Panaji, Mar 22 (UNI) Chief Minister Pratapsinh Rane offered a slew of subsidies and incentives in his finance bill today for boosting agriculture and rural economy.

''High value agriculture like horticulture and floriculture are expected to yield better economic returns and I intend to promote this sector,'' he told the Legislative Assembly.

He offered 17 per cent subsidy from State funds in addition to the 33 per cent Central subsidy for floriculture under the National Horticulture Mission. With Rs 3.15 crore out of Rs 7.88 crore received under the Mission, the State has covered 700 hectares for cashew plantations.

About 2,300 farmers cultivating arecanut would also be benefitted as the State government increased the support price from the existing Rs 70 per kg to Rs 85 to offset increased cost of cultivation.

About 2000 farmers cultivating paddy would be benefitted by the doubling of incentive to Rs 1000 per tonne even as the State announced 25 per cent subsidy against an equal Central subsidy for purchasing power tillers and electric water pumps of 5 HP capacity.

The Chief Minister also doubled the sugarcane support price and urged farmers to diversify into ethanol manufacture.

Mr Rane also proposed to enhance incentive to milk producers upto Rs 2 per litre and 30 per cent subsidy for purchasing milching machines. The Chief Minister said financial assistance would be provided for opening 20 booths that sell milk and milk products round-the-clock at tourist places and highways.

Besides offering Rs 200 per tonne subsidy on transport of poultry feed from outside the State, he has provided for ''radio frequency identification device'' for cattle covering about 15,000 animals in the new fiscal.

In line with the National Rural Employment Guarantee scheme now in operation in 200 districts in the country, the Chief Minister announced a State-level scheme to assure minimum 100 days employment for the rural unemployed.

Financial assistance for new domestic gas connection for below poverty line families has also been proposed and a budgetary provision of Rs 40 lakh has been made for the same.

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