TAD News Desk, New Delhi: Wheat seed subsidy policy of 2020-21, has been approved by Capt. Amarinder Singh led Punjab government. This Rabi season, farmers would receive 100 percent certified wheat seeds at 50 percent of the cost, proposed the agriculture department of the state.
Punjab state during this Rabi season expects cultivation of wheat in about 35 lakh hectares of area. Farmers need to submit their application after November 1.
Farmers have to submit fully filled applications in the agriculture department offices of their respective areas after November 1 to avail the subsidy.
The official statement reported that around 2.5lakhs farmers would be benefited directly through this policy in which 1.85lakh quintal of seeds would be distributed providing a subsidy of rupees 18.5 crores. One could get subsidized seeds for a maximum of 5 acres of land.
Applicant’s bank account would be credited with rs1000 per quintal or 50 percent of total seed cost. The emphasis would be to provide these subsidized seeds to small and marginalized farmers, directed Amarinder Singh to the agriculture department. He categorically noted the need for transfer of cash directly to the eligible farmer’s bank account and only eligible farmers get the subsidized seed.
Anirudh Tewari, Additional chief secretary (development) was directed by the CM to provide high quality seeds to the farmers and issue a notice to all members of the agriculture department to closely monitor the seed distribution in their respective areas and facilitate the distribution. All the staff members have to closely follow these instructions issued.
He warned further that in case of any fraudulence or malpractice in seed distribution, the concerned officer of seed agency at the district or block level and also the agriculture department officer would be held responsible.
Additional Chief Secretary (Development), Anirudh Tewari said that the required necessary arrangement has been made by the agriculture department officers to provide farmers with subsidized wheat seeds, smoothly.
Source – Krishi Jagran
