Hooda promises to announce highest ever sugarcane prices

Karnal Oct 21 (UNI) Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda today promised the farmers that his government would soon declare new sugarcane price which would be highest in the country so far.

The Chief Minister, who was addressing the farmers after inaugurating the four-day Rabi Kisan Mela here, said the sugarcane growers in Haryana were already getting highest ever price of Rs 138 per quintal for sugarcane.

He said efforts were also being made to get export duty on Basmati Rice reduced for the benefit of the farmers.

Observing that the Agriculture Sector today was facing a lot of new challenges, including shrinking land holding and depleting water table, the Chief Minister said despite this, the State had achieved highest ever foodgrain production of 153 lakh tonnes during last year because of hard labour of the farmers and innovative policies presoribed by the State Government.

Though Haryana constitutes 1.44 per cent of the total geographical area of the country, but it produced more than 30 per cent of the foodgrains and was a leading state in terms of wheat productivity and production of Basmati Rice, he added.

He also urged the farmers to adopt modern agriculture technology, quality pesticides and seeds, vermi culture and crop diversification to increase foodgrain production and enhance their incomes.

Earlier, the Chief Minister took a round of the Kisan Mela and inspected many of the 102 stalls put up . The Chief Minister honoured 12 progressive farmers who have achieved remarkable achievements in various agriculture activities, such as food grain production, sugarcane production, animal husbandry, fisheries among others.

A large exhibition of agricultural implements has also been put up in the fair to give information to the farmers about research, modern agriculture techniques and other activities of agriculture.

Chaudhary Elem Singh, president farmers club, Karnal presented turban to the Chief Minister as a token of respect.

The Agriculture Minister Harmohinder Singh Chatha also addressed the farmers on this occasion.

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