UP to promote soybean farming in Bundelkhand

Uttar Pradesh is keen to promote soybean farming in the arid Bundelkhand region of the state. A soybean oil milling plant is proposed to be established in Bundelkhand to encourage its cultivation across large expanse of land.

The vegetation and soil in Bundelkhand is suitable for soybean cultivation.as this crop does not require much water for irrigation..

Besides, the government would encourage dairy production by targetting to set up 120 cooperative dairy societies across the seven districts of Bundelkhand in the next three years.Under dairy development, the state has already cleared projects worth Rs 25 crore.

Meanwhile, UP has sought Rs 4,737 crore as second tranche of the Bundelkhand package from the Centre and state Chief Secretary Jawed Usmani has asked the officials to forward a fresh proposal to the Centre.

The funds would be utilised towards rural development, water harvesting and irrigation projects. Bundelkhand comprises Jalaun, Mahoba, Jhansi, Chitrakoot, Banda, Hamirpur and Lalitpur districts.

Water conservation projects include 178 community tube wells, 800 check dams, 2,500 deep borewells and 6,000 medium borewells in the region.

It is also proposed to set up seven special 'mandis' in Bundelkhand and 168 rural infrastructure centres to provide agricultural marketing support to farmers.

Moreover, 166 check dams would be constructed for recharging the ground water near forest areas and to make available irrigation and drinking water in the adjoining villages.

Silage and goat rearing units would be set up in the region by incurring about Rs 27 crore, while Rs 11 crore would be spent towards fodder development. Silages are silo units to store green fodder in airtight conditions for use as animal fodder in winters.

In June 2011, ex-chief minister Mayawati had urged the Centre to waive off farmers' loan estimated at Rs 4,500 crore in Bundelkhand. She had demanded loans distributed till March 31, 2011 be included in the special waiver, which would have benefitted 1.5 million farmers in the impoverished region.