Natural and Organic Farming to Receive Major Boost; Eligible Farmers to Get Incentives and Assistance for Purchasing Indigenous Cows: CM
Chandigarh: Haryana Chief Minister Sh. Nayab Singh Saini has directed Agriculture Department officials to immediately initiate a scientific assessment of the quality of water drawn from farmers’ tubewells across the state so that farmers can receive timely scientific advice suited to the conditions of their fields and water resources. He said that the state government will test the quality of water from all tubewells in Haryana and ensure that the entire process is simple, transparent and farmer-friendly.
The Chief Minister was reviewing schemes and projects of the Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Department during a high-level meeting held in Chandigarh on Friday to assess the progress of budget announcements, Chief Minister’s announcements and commitments made under Sankalp Patra-2024.
Present in the meeting were Chief Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Sh. Rajesh Khullar, Additional Chief Secretary, Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Department, Sh. Vijayendra Kumar, Principal Secretary, Department of Future, Amneet P. Kumar, Director General, Agriculture Department, Sh. Raj Narayan Kaushik, OSD to the Chief Minister Sh. Virender Badhkhalsa, OSD to the Chief Minister and Director General, Swarna Jayanti Haryana Institute for Fiscal Management, Dr. Raj Nehru, along with other senior officials.
Free Testing of Tubewell Water; Entire System to be Integrated with the ‘Meri Fasal-Mera Byora’ Portal
The Chief Minister directed officials to ensure free testing of tubewell water samples and facilitate farmers in submitting their water samples to designated laboratories as per the prescribed procedure. He further instructed that the entire system be integrated with the ‘Meri Fasal-Mera Byora’ portal so that records of every sample, its test report and related agricultural advisories are digitally available.
The Chief Minister said that water testing should include parameters such as carbonates, bicarbonates, calcium, magnesium, sodium, chloride and other essential chemical constituents and water quality indicators.
He directed officials to provide farmers with clear guidance based on the test results regarding which crops are most suitable for their water quality, which crops should be avoided, and what farming practices should be adopted in cases of nutrient deficiencies or specific water-quality conditions.
Sh. Nayab Singh Saini said the government’s objective is not merely to provide water test reports but to develop a scientific system of “crop selection based on water quality reports,” enabling farmers to choose crops best suited to the quality of water available to them. He added that farmers can take tubewell water samples to their nearest laboratory for testing at any time.
Major Push for Natural and Organic Farming; Incentives for Eligible Farmers
The Chief Minister directed officials to expedite implementation of provisions announced in the Budget 2026-27 for promoting natural and organic farming. He emphasized the need to strengthen certification mechanisms, provide support to farmers and develop institutional infrastructure for the sector. Various provisions, arrangements and implementation measures were reviewed during the meeting.
He directed that the process for providing an incentive of Rs. 10,000 per acre per year to farmers certified by APEDA or those adopting natural and organic farming be streamlined so that eligible farmers can avail the benefit without difficulty.
Officials were instructed to simplify and make transparent the processes related to eligibility, application, certification, verification and disbursement of incentives.
The Chief Minister also reviewed progress on promoting natural and organic farming on nearly 800 acres of land owned by the Agriculture Department. He said arrangements should be advanced to utilize this land for natural and organic farming, encouraging more farmers to adopt such practices.
He further directed that farmers adopting natural farming should receive adequate foundational support. In particular, arrangements for providing financial assistance of up to Rs. 30,000 for the purchase of indigenous cows should be effectively implemented to help farmers adopt cow-based natural farming practices.
He stressed that certification, incentives, training, land utilization, marketing and sale of natural farming products should be pursued through an integrated approach so that farmers receive support from production to market access.
Emphasis on Promoting Phosphorus-Rich Organic Manure
During the meeting, the Chief Minister also stressed the need to promote the use of Phosphorus Rich Organic Manure (PROM). He said such organic fertilizers can improve soil health, reduce dependence on chemical fertilizers and strengthen the foundation of natural and organic farming.
Officials were directed to create awareness among farmers regarding the availability, benefits and use of PROM and other organic fertilizers and integrate them effectively into natural and organic farming programmes.
Focus on Sugarcane Production, Incentives and Modern Technology The Chief Minister reviewed various initiatives related to the sugarcane sector aimed at increasing production and enhancing farmers’ income.
He directed officials to explore the possibility of increasing incentives provided for higher sugarcane productivity so that farmers are encouraged to adopt advanced cultivation techniques.
He also called for concrete steps to make sugarcane harvesters available to farmers, thereby reducing production costs and easing labour-related challenges.
Emphasizing the importance of tissue culture technology, Sh. Nayab Singh Saini said it can significantly improve sugarcane productivity and quality, ensuring better varieties, higher yields and improved incomes for farmers. He directed officials to pursue all sugarcane-related schemes, incentive provisions, modern technologies and mechanisation measures in a coordinated manner to accelerate sugarcane development in the state.
Directions to Provide Subsidies for Promoting Cotton Cultivation
The Chief Minister directed officials to take effective measures to support cotton cultivation in Haryana through subsidies and other assistance.
He said arrangements should be advanced for providing subsidies on handheld battery-operated machines and fuel-operated cotton picking machines to reduce production costs, provide relief to cotton growers and encourage cotton cultivation across the state.
Benefits of Agricultural Schemes Must Reach Farmers Directly
The Chief Minister instructed officials to ensure that every commitment made in the Budget, Chief Minister’s announcements and the Sankalp Patra is implemented effectively within the stipulated timeframe.
He emphasized that the benefits of agriculture-related schemes must reach farmers directly and directed the department to ensure regular monitoring of all projects and initiatives
