SATISH HANDA
‘Mera Paani-Meri Virasat’ scheme launched by Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar in the state has impressed 41273 farmers already registered themselves under this scheme. Chief Minister had made an appeal to farmers to change their crop pattern from paddy, requires excessive quantity of water for its growth as compared to other crops, especially in eight blocks in Haryana state Sirsa, Ratia, Seewan, Babain, Gulha, Ismailabad, Pipli and Shahabad known for major production of paddy crop in the state where water level in underground has dropped to more than 40 meters posing a threat to the residents in the area. He advised farmers to cultivate alternate crops like Maize, Mallet, Cotton, Dalhan and other seasonal vegetables need lesser quantity of water in these area instead of paddy crop and also avail financial aid at the rate of Rs 7000 each acre land as announced by the state government.
Sanjeev Kaushal Additional Chief Secretary Agriculture & Farmers Welfare Department Haryana told that as many as 41273 farmers has already registered themselves under this scheme as on June 4, 2020 admitting to cultivate alternate crop other than paddy in 45178 hectare area and large number of farmers in Haryana state are likely to follow this scheme in due course of time. Kaushal disclosed that 6045 farmers in eight blocks in the state producing maximum quantity of paddy crop and facing acute shortage of water accepted ‘Mera Paani-Meri Virasat’ scheme include 1289 farmers at Sirsa, 683 farmers at Ratia, 491 farmers at Babain, 460 farmers at Gulha, 350 farmers at Pipli, 347 farmers at Shahabad, 300 farmers at Ismailabad and 126 farmers at Seewan has agreed to cultivate alternate crops in 6130.70 hectare area.
Kaushal further disclosed that that the farmers expressed desire to cultivate Maize in 6859.74 hectare area, Millets (Bajra) in 7111.98 hectare area, Cotton in 26569.43 hectare area, ‘Dalhan’ 751.40 hectare area and vegetables’ in 3886.42 hectare area. Information also reveals that district wise farmers expressed willingness to change their crop pattern from paddy to other crops and registered with state government include 4696 farmers from Jind district, 2666 farmers from Charkhi Dadri district, 2487 farmers from Karnal district, 2288 farmers from Fatehabad istrict, 2224 farmers from Palwal district, 2068 farmers from Sirsa district, 2018 farmers from Jhajjar district, 1878 farmers from Ambala district, 1853 farmers from Panipat district, 1731 farmers from Sonepat district, 1712 farmers from Panchkula district, 1696 farmers from Kaithal district, 1578 farmers from Yamunanagar district, 1529 farmers from Bhiwani district, 1439 farmers from Hisar district, 1035 farmers from Rohtak district, 788 farmers from Gurugram district, 513 farmers from Rewari district, 494 farmers from Faridabad, 398 farmers from Mewat district, 87 farmers from Kurukshetra district and 49 farmers from Mohindergarh district.
