Chandigarh: With the objective of making Haryana a leading agricultural state in the country in line with Vision-2047 and enhancing farmers’ incomes, Haryana Chief Minister, Nayab Singh Saini on Friday reviewed the Agriculture Department’s five-year roadmap and action plan during a meeting held at the Haryana Civil Secretariat. During the meeting, emphasis was done on increasing farmers’ earnings by integrating agriculture with modern technologies, reducing cultivation costs, and ensuring better market access.
Reviewing the progress of Chief Minister’s announcements, Budget announcements and Sankalps related to the Agriculture Department, the Chief Minister directed officers to implement the Vision-2047 goals within the stipulated timeframe so that every farmer benefits from government schemes and agriculture becomes more profitable.
Review was also done regarding the campaign to reclaim waterlogged, saline agricultural land. Officers apprised the Chief Minister that a target has been set to reclaim 1.40 lakh acres of such land during the current year.
The Chief Minister directed that a scientific plan be prepared to prevent the recurrence of the problem in the future and that a system for regular satellite-based monitoring be developed.
Reviewing the Soil Health Card Scheme, officers informed that the state has set a target of issuing 15 lakh Soil Health Cards. In the first phase, 3.75 lakh soil samples are to be collected, of which 50,620 samples have already been gathered. The remaining target is expected to be completed by July.
The Chief Minister directed that school students, college students and rural youth be engaged as volunteers in the campaign so that they gain an understanding of soil testing while also developing greater interest in agriculture.
The Chief Minister further directed that in districts with high urea consumption, soil test reports should be analysed to determine whether there is an actual nitrogen deficiency or whether farmers are applying urea in excess of the required quantity. Based on the findings, an appropriate strategy should be prepared to promote balanced fertiliser use among farmers.
During the meeting detailed discussions were also done on promoting natural and organic farming. Officers apprised the Chief Minister that special arrangements are being made in 10 districts for the sale of natural and organic produce. Dedicated markets will be established in Hisar and Gurugram, while separate spaces will be earmarked for such produce in eight other mandis. Discussions were also held on further strengthening the certification mechanism for farmers’ produce.
The Chief Minister directed that separate registers be maintained in mandis for the procurement of crops produced through natural and organic farming. He also instructed that HAFED should facilitate the marketing, purchase and sale of such produce.
The meeting further discussed promoting Direct Seeded Rice (DSR) technology, widely publicising the incentive available to farmers under the scheme, and encouraging greater adoption of the technology. Setting a target of reducing stubble-burning incidents to zero through awareness campaigns and the use of modern farm machinery, the Chief Minister specifically directed that reapers and other necessary agricultural equipment be made available in districts bordering Punjab.
Strategies to promote crop diversification through the Mera Pani-Meri Virasat scheme and expand drip irrigation were also discussed. The Chief Minister directed officers to encourage the use of modern cotton-picking machines in cotton-growing areas and to organise a special agriculture fair in Hisar in August to familiarise farmers with new agricultural technologies.
The Chief Minister said that the objective of Haryana Vision-2047 is not merely to increase agricultural production but also to enhance farmers’ incomes and make agriculture future-ready. He directed that farmers be encouraged to cultivate pulses, horticultural crops and other high-value crops, while ensuring better utilisation of natural resources and wider adoption of modern technologies so that the state’s farming community becomes more prosperous economically.
Chief Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, Rajesh Khullar, Additional Chief Secretary, Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Department, Vijayendra Kumar, Principal Secretary, Department of Future, Smt. P. Amneet Kumar, Director General, Agriculture,Rajnarayan Kaushik, Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to Chief Minister and Director General, Swarna Jayanti Haryana Institute for Fiscal Management, Dr Raj Nehru, OSD to Chief Minister, Virender Singh Badhkhalsa and other senior officers also remained present during the meeting.
