To woo the numerically strong farming community in the upcoming Assembly elections, the State budget on Agriculture for 2013-14 has several new proposals, including establishment of a Farmers Income Commission, a single window agency, issuing of data-based passbooks to farmers, installation of solar power based irrigation pump-sets and merging of various schemes.
The budget has proposed to spend Rs. 22,310 crore on the agriculture sector in 2013 -14, an increase of 13.5 per cent compared to previous year (Rs. 19,660 crore). The total outlay for agriculture is Rs. 3091 crore, horticulture – Rs. 1310 crore, animal husbandry – Rs .1118 crore, fisheries – Rs. 238 crore, cooperation – Rs. 1428 crore, and Rs. 11,500 crore for water resources, including minor irrigation.
Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar, who presented the budget in the Legislative Assembly on Friday, said the Farmers’ Income Commission would be set up for improving their economic condition. It was set up as per the recommendations of the noted scientist M. S. Swaminathan.
Passbooks containing data of landholding, category, address, facilities availed etc. would be issued to farmers. a database would be created with the integration of the Bhoomi project with the existing ‘Aadhar’ database in the state. The database would be used for formulating agricultural policies and Rs. 15 crore has been set aside for implementing the programme. It would be implemented on a pilot basis in Mysore, Tumkur and Dharwad districts where the ‘Aadhar’ project is completed, he said.
To provide necessary extension services to farmers, it was proposed to set up a single window agency in collaboration with expert institutions. It would be implemented in four districts of Tumkur, Chikmagalur, Bijapur, and Raichur on a pilot basis during the 2013 kharif season. It would be extended to 12 districts during the 2013 -14 rabi season and to all districts in 2014 -15. A sum of Rs. 75 crore has been allocated for it.
For extending the Bhuchetana programme, which aimed at increasing the crop yield, Rs. 75 crore has been has been set aside. Area under the programme would be extended to 168 lakh acres, including 144 lakh dry land and 24 acres of irrigated land in 2013 -14. It was proposed to merge 26 State sector schemes into seven to avoid delay in implementation and repetition and to ensure easy monitoring. It was also proposed to set up an agriculture college at Athani. The food production target was set at 13 million tonnes in 2013 -14.
The Suvarna Bhoomi scheme has been extended to farmers growing ragi, jowar, maize, and bajra. Rs. 300 crore has been earmarked for assisting three lakh beneficiaries in 2013 -14. A sum of Rs. 100 crore has been set aside for preparation, certification, and distribution of organic manure by APEDA identified agencies and Rs. 30 crore for rejuvenation of saline and alkaline lands in Tungabhadra and Upper Krishna projects.
For encouraging seed production in selected villages at hobli level, it was proposed to allocate Rs. 55 crore for creating facilities like fee concession for seed certification, construction of seed storage godowns, threshing yards, and purchase of equipment required for processing.
It was proposed to spend Rs. 10 crore for providing weather and market information on cell phones to 100 registered farmers/extension workers in each taluk in the district. To ensure weather-based insurance scheme to all crops, Rs. 35 crore would be provided in 2013 -14 to install remote rain gauges stations in 3, 700 gram panchayats and to establish remote meteorological centres in 550 hoblis. Rs 100 crore would be provided to extend the scheme to whole State. About 57 lakh farmers would benefit through this scheme.
Following severe shortage in electricity supply, it was proposed to install solar power pump-sets wherever possible. It would be implemented in four districts, one each in every revenue division, at a cost of Rs. 50 crore.
The Chief Minister said schemes such as free electricity supply to irrigation pump-sets up to 10 HP would be continued and Rs. 5250 crore would be provided for payment of subsidy to electricity supply companies.
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