Haryana to promote organic farming in non-NHM districts

Chandigarh, Apr 15 (UNI) Haryana Horticulture Department has launched a new scheme to develop and promote organic farming in districts which do not come under National Horticulture Mission.

Agriculture Minister Harmohinder Singh Chatha said that under this scheme, which would cover Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Jind, Rewari and Mohindergarh, an amount of Rs 34 lakh would be spent in the current financial year to encourage the farmers to adopt organic farming system and to educate them about the vermin-compost unit, organic farming and their certification.

He said that the Department would provide 50 per cent of assistance to the farmers who would take up organic farming at the rate of Rs 10,000 per hectare and it would be limited to 4 hectares per beneficiaries.

To encourage the farmers to start the vermin-compost unit an assistance of 50 per cent at the rate of Rs 30,000 per unit would also be provided.

To smoothen the process of organic certification, 100 per cent subsidy would be provided to a group of farmers covering an area of 25 hectares.

''It is high time to promote organic based production to minimize the excessive use of the pesticides and fertilizer and to educate the farmers and the field staff regarding control of insect, pest and diseases by organic means,'' the Minister said.

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