A scheme for solar power-driven agricultural pumpsets and water pumping stations for energising one lakh pumps proposed in the Union Budget is not new, said Manchi Srinivasa Achar, president, All India Areca Growers’ Association.
He said the Centre had launched a scheme of providing solar pumpsets at Rs. 30,000 to farmers about 20 years ago. But this scheme did not have takers as the efficiency of solar panels available then was very low.
He welcomed the announcements of “protein revolution” for higher agriculture productivity, the programme for Rs. five lakh loans through NABARD for joint farming, the scheme to provide every farmer a soil health card, and the proposal to set up mobile soil testing laboratories.
The government must ensure that all these schemes reached genuine farmers and should not suffer in bureaucratic hurdles, Mr. Achar said.
Sridhar G. Bhide, director, Mangalore Agriculturists’ Sahakari Sangha, said the budget did not have any scheme to attract youth to farming. The scheme for joint farming might be of help only to short term crops and not plantation crops like arecanut and rubber, Mr. Bhide said. Karnataka Rajya Raita Sangha leader Kanagal Murthy said the budget was not clear on how farmers would get scientific price for produce.
