Grants scheme to Chhattisgarh ryots

Kawardha, Sep 4 (UNI) Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh today said his government would soon launch a roughly Rs 500-crore scheme under which grants would be given to farmers for drip, sprinkler and minor irrigation.

''Change in crop cycles has remained a mere slogan but to change that my government will supply power pump connections on priority basis,'' he said while addressing a peasants' meeting coinciding with the inauguration of a 'Vriksh Mitra Mahaabhiyan' at Ramhepur, 10 km from here.

An arrangement is in place for bonus and rapid payment for output to this district's ryots who abandon paddy cultivation in favour of sugarcane.

''Cane production in this area has shot up to 9,000 hectares from 6,500 ha over the past four years and the bonus increased from Rs 87 lakh to Rs 1.85 crore,'' Dr Singh added.

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