UP farmers to get additional subsidy on certified seeds

In a bid to provide special relief to farmers in 50 drought-hit districts of the state, Uttar Pradesh government has decided to provide additional subsidy to them on certified seeds.
"Due to less and untimely rains, farmers have suffered losses in 2014-2015 due to which decision has been taken to provide additional subsidy on certified seeds in 50 drought-hit districts," an official spokesman said here.
As per the decision, on wheat additional subsidy of Rs 600 per quintal will be provided on certified seeds by the state government. It would be in addition to existing subsidy of Rs 1,400 per quintal (including Rs 1,000 by Centre and Rs 400 by the state) provided at present, he said.

Similarly, for pulses like Chana, Matar and Masoor additional subsidy of Rs 1,700 per quintal will be given in addition to the existing Rs 800 per quintal.
For Rabi's oilseed crops, Rs 1200 per quintal additional subsidy will be provided to the farmers on their seeds, he said.
For providing additional subsidy, the state government has relaxed Centre's norm of subsidy limit of the state to 50 per cent.

Subsidy would be transferred to farmers through the state's existing Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) scheme for seed subsidy.
In the drought-hit districts, the benefit will also extend retrospectively to farmers who have already purchased seeds from government shops, this year and will be paid through a second instalment.

The government-run DBT scheme for seed subsidy has been operational in UP since August.
The DBT scheme is expected to benefit farmers in the western districts of UP, where wheat sowing continues till January-end.
With over 35 lakh farmers registered under the DBT scheme so far, the government has cut out the middlemen and also ensured the seeds are circulated among a larger number of beneficiaries, officials said.