Haryana raises target for oilseeds, pulses

Chandigarh, May 21 (UNI) The Haryana government has fixed a target to cover an area of over seven lakh hectares under oilseeds and two lakh hectares under pulses as part of its programme to accelerate the diversification of crops in the state during the current financial year.

Similarly targets of production of oilseeds and pulses have been fixed at 8.31 lakh tonnes and 1.56 lakh tonnes respectively, Haryana Agriculture Minister Harmohinder Singh Chatha said today.

A sum of Rs 9.35 crore had been earmarked to achieve the area and production targets which would boost the diversification programme under "Integrated Scheme of Oilseed Pulses and Maize".

The main objective of the scheme was to increase the production of oilseeds and pulses in the state by ensuring timely and adequate provision of quality agricultural inputs besides extension advice to the farmers across the state so that they could increase their income by adopting the cultivation of these crops, he added.

Mr Chatha said that over the years, area and production of oilseeds had increased considerably.

UNI