With Rabi crop in parts of the State damaged due to unseasonal rains, the Punjab Government on Wednesday hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s announcement of providing relief for even 33 per cent crop damage saying this would help more of the affected farmers realise the input subsidy. The State has also announced support a slew of measures for potato farmers, who have seen a bumper harvest this year so that the glut does not affect their incomes.
Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal said the change in norms for input subsidy would benefit a large number of farmers. He, however, urged the Centre to further enhance the relief norms for the affected farmers to Rs. 10,000 per acre.
As for the potato farmers, Mr. Badal said with the State witnessing record produce of 22.60 lakh metric tonnes during the current season, it was essential that the growers get a fair price for their crop in the market.
Hence, he said Markfed has been directed to procure potatoes from the market for supplying to other parts of the country. Mr. Badal also announced that a freight subsidy of Rs.200 per quintal would be paid through Markfed for export of potatoes to other countries and Rs. 50 per quintal for selling or sending potatoes to other States.
To help the farmers at the Mandi Board level, he said the Market fee and Rural Development Fee has been slashed from 2 per cent to 0.25 per cent till April 30, 2015, to facilitate higher sales. Similarly, a commission of only 1 per cent would be charged by the commission agents during this period.
The Government has also decided to increase use of potatoes in the mid-day meal that is supplied to 16 lakh school students across the State on a daily basis.
