Regional Conference on Agricultural Schemes in Northern States: A Step Forward for Farmers

The Ministry of Agriculture recently held a regional conference in New Delhi to review government schemes aimed at benefiting farmers in northern states. Senior officials from Punjab, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, and the Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, and Delhi participated to assess and enhance the effectiveness of these initiatives, ensuring swift benefits reach farmers.

Timely Implementation and Effective Fund Management:

Agriculture Secretary Dr. Devesh Chaturvedi advised states to ensure timely execution of central government schemes. He emphasized the importance of states releasing their share of funds promptly and managing the Single Nodal Account (SNA) properly. Dr. Chaturvedi underscored that funds should be fully utilized so that benefits can reach farmers directly and efficiently.

Focus on Key Schemes: RKVY and Krishonnati Yojana:

A key discussion centered on the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) and the Krishonnati Yojana, which aim to improve farmers' financial well-being and encourage modern agricultural practices. Dr. Chaturvedi suggested that states complete their annual action plans by December, allowing the timely release of the first installment in the next fiscal year.

Review of Additional Beneficial Schemes for Farmers:

The conference also addressed schemes like the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) Mission and the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY), which aim to provide affordable and accessible credit and crop insurance to farmers. In reviewing the Digital Agriculture Mission, states were encouraged to adopt digital crop survey systems to enable farmers to benefit from data-driven services.

National Edible Oil Mission and Agricultural Infrastructure Fund: Discussions included the National Edible Oils Mission, NABL accreditation for pesticide testing labs, and the Agricultural Infrastructure Fund (AIF). These initiatives aim to enhance agricultural growth and help farmers adopt advanced techniques to improve their yields and productivity.

Government’s Commitment to Supporting Farmers: The conference demonstrated the government’s commitment to supporting farmers. An open house session allowed stakeholders to discuss challenges and propose solutions to improve scheme implementation, maximizing the programs' reach to benefit the agricultural community.

Steps Toward Comprehensive Agricultural Development: This initiative represents a vital step toward enhancing agricultural development and improving farmers' financial stability across India. Such regional conferences support more precise, region-specific implementation of schemes, addressing the unique needs of each area for the betterment of the farming sector.

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