HAFED takes up contract farming of basmati paddy

Chandigarh, Jul 15 (UNI) The Haryana State Cooperative Supply and Marketing Federation Limited (HAFED) has taken up contract farming of basmati paddy during kharif 2008 over an area of 4115 acres of land in Kurukshetra, Karnal and Kaithal districts.

An agreement to this effect has been made with 846 farmers of these districts, a HAFED spokesman said today.

He said the paddy growing farmers under contract farming would be paid Rs 100 per quintal over and above prevailing market price for all the quality produce offered by contract farmers to HAFED for buyback.

The farmers would be provided free of cost professional advisory services and good quality seed.

He said that HAFED was also planning to set up a Turmeric Processing Plant in district Yamunanagar with a capacity of 1400 tonnes per year.

The raw turmeric for processing in the plant would be bought from the farmers under contract farming.

He pointed out that HAFED had also taken up contract farming of desi wheat C-306 during Rabi 2007-08 on 395 acres of land in district Rohtak, Jhajjar, Gurgaon, Mewat, Rewari and Narnaul.

Certified seeds of C-306 variety of wheat were made available to the farmers, besides providing them free advisory services.

The produce offered by the contracted farmers was purchased by HAFED at Rs 1300 per quintal.

The spokesman said that during Rabi 2007-08 contract farming of barley on 2300 acres of land was also facilitated by HAFED under tie up with SKOL Breweries.

As much as, 866 metric tonnes of barley was purchased by HAFED at a price ranging from Rs 910 per quintal to Rs 1210 per quintal against a minimum buy back price of Rs 800 per quintal guaranteed to the farmers.

Farmers were also provided professional field extension services free of cost by the SKOL, he added.

He said that HAFED was also providing facility of weather based insurance to the willing farmers in district Kurukshetra, Karnal and Kaithal through Agriculture Insurance Company of India.

Under the scheme, farmers would pay only Rs 337 per acre out of total premium range of Rs 1124 to Rs 1348 per acre for sum insured of Rs 12000 per acre. Rest of the premium amount would be shared equally by HAFED and Central Government.

Under the scheme, claims against excess rainfall, low rainfall and distribution of rainfall beyond abnormal limit were covered.

UNI MA BP1955