Tabling the state budget for the 2033-24 financial year, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, who also holds the finance portfolio, said, Rs 8316 has been proposed for cooperation, agriculture and allied sectors for 2023-24, which is an increase of 19 percent over the revised estimates of the current year.
In order to improve the financial viability and give a better return to farmers, Cooperative Sugar Mills have decided to diversify into ethanol production in line with the program promoted by the Central Government. The Government aims to fund the establishment of Ethanol Plants of 690 KLPD capacity in Cooperative Sugar Mills with an estimated amount of Rs 1200 crore over a period of three years, Khattar announced.
The State Government is also considering setting up Biogas Plants in Cooperative Sugar Mills in the Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode.
He further added, last year I had stated the intent of the Government for computerization of the lending operations of Primary Agriculture Credit Societies (PACS). I am happy to state that the computerization of 771 PACS is likely to be completed soon.
The PACS will be strengthened to take up additional areas which are of importance to the farmer such as warehousing, custom hiring of agricultural equipment and fertiliser management which has the potential to earn revenue for PACS and provide facilities to the farmer. I hope to give a new thrust to the cooperative structure by promoting the establishment of 500 PACS, Khattar underlined.
He added, a scheme, Sanjhi Dairy has been launched this month to enable those who do not have sufficient land to augment their incomes through animal husbandry activities. Under the scheme, the Haryana Dairy Development Cooperative Federation (HDDCF) will construct animal sheds on land of Gram Panchayats and PACS where the cattle will be kept and maintained together. All necessary facilities in the Sanjhi Diary including animal feed, silage, and veterinary services shall be provided by the HDDCF.
Besides, the National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) has sanctioned a credit facility of Rs 10,000 crore to the Haryana State Cooperative Apex (HARCO) Bank on concessional rate of interest. The credit facility will be available to any cooperative organisation in the State for meeting its working capital or other capital investment requirements.
In recent years HAFED has diversified its activities by entering the export sector. HAFED was able to procure export orders of 85 thousand metric tonnes of Basmati valued at $105 million (Rs 840 crore) from the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.
HAFED has decided to open a Haryana Cooperative Export House at Karnal for augmenting its export activities and thus ensure that farmers receive a better price for their produce.
