Uttarakhand to launch cluster farming

Chief Minister Rawat calls for bringing in an effective agriculture policy and making efforts to promote farming in hilly areas

Uttarakhand has decided to bring a new agriculture policy and launch cluster farming in hilly areas.

At a review meeting of the agriculture department held on Tuesday at Bijapur Guest House (the chief minister's residence) here, Chief Minister Harish Rawat called for concerted efforts to promote farming in hilly areas and bring an effective agriculture policy in this regard.

The chief minister instructed the department to identify villages where farmers can grow vegetables and pulses.

"The farming should take place in cluster formation," Rawat said. To promote cluster farming, the chief minister made a budgetary provision of Rs 1 crore.

Special incentives will be given to farmers who promote water harvesting. To attract farmers, specialised agriculture programmes should also be started, Rawat said.

He asked the department to organise agriculture fairs or melas, where new farming techniques can be shared with farmers.

Special training sessions should also be held for farmers on regular basis, he said. All those farmers who are keen to promote farming in their villages should also get rewards, Rawat added.

The government must bring changes in the agriculture insurance schemes in order to make them more attractive. Five per cent of shares of the Terai Seed Corporation will be given to farmers as a special incentive. All the mandis have also been asked to reserve shops for organic farming. Farmers will also get subsidy to purchase power tillers and power weeders in the ratio of 80:20.

The farming of buckwheat, locally known as mandua, will also be promoted in the region.

NEW AGRICULTURE POLICY

| To promote cluster farming, the chief minister made a budgetary provision of Rs 1 crore
| The chief minister instructed agriculture department to identify villages where farmers can grow vegetables and pulses
| Special incentives will be given to farmers who promote water harvesting
| Farmers will also get subsidy to purchase power tillers and power weeder in the ratio of 80:20
| All those farmers who are keen to promote farming in their villages to get reward
| The government must bring changes in the agriculture insurance schemes in order to make them more attractive, the CM says