Haryana seeks 30 pc hike in MSP

The Haryana Government today said it has recommended 30 per cent increase in the Minimum Support Price (MSP) of various crops to make agriculture sector profitable.
The recommendations were sent to the Central Government, stated Haryana Agriculture Minister Om Parkash Dhankar while speaking on the occasion of the Deenbandhu Sir Chhotu Ram anniversary celebrations in Jind, today.
A number of initiatives are being taken by the state government to make farmers prosperous, he said.
Stating that the government has succeeded in delivering water right up to 90 per cent tail-ends, he urged farmers to adopt Israel's drip irrigation technology to make maximum use of the water and ensure that adequate water is provided to farms.

The state government is also providing huge subsidy on this technique, he said adding subsidy of up to Rs 22 lakh would be given to farmers for the construction of ponds as water conservation measure.
Referring to the importance of horticulture, Dhankar said that presently 90 per cent land was being cultivated for traditional crops like wheat, sugarcane and cotton and only seven per cent land is under horticulture.
There is a need to change the concept of traditional cultivation and farmers should switch over to cash crops to meet the market demand, minister said.