Addressing regional Editors Conference in Chandigarh on Tuesday, Union Minister Radha Mohan Singh said by next year about 14 crore farmers will get Soil Health Card and significant numbers will get the insurance cover. Under Soil Health Card scheme Rs 368.30 crore has been allocated this year compare to Rs. 142 crore last year.
Minister also claimed an allocation of Rs 5500 crore in the year 2016-17 budget has been made under Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana which was are Rs 3,185 crore in the previous budget. This is an increase of about 73% in this scheme.
To ensure better prices for the produce of farmers government is working in connecting all agriculture mandis with a national platform and by next year all the 585 mandis will be connected to a common single market where farmers would be able to sell their produce for better price, he underlined.
Radha Mohan Singh said that the government is working for financial empowerment of the farmers through various ways. The credit flow to the agriculture sector has been increased to 9.0 lakh crore and to reduce the pressure of loan on farmers, Rs. 15,000 crore has been allocated for interest subvention.
Singh said the centre is already providing 5% interest subsidy to the banks out of 9% being charged by them for agriculture loan. Union Minister appealed to the state governments to provide remaining 4% from their exchequer so that farmers can get agriculture loan at 0%.
The Minister added that Agro-forestry is being encouraged and some new programmes like “Medh Par Ped” have been initiatives and extension and capacity building support is being provided to farmers for additional income.
Ministry has decided to set up 150 seed hubs in country to increase production of pulses. Each hub produces 1000 quintal of quality seeds which will be provide to farmers, Singh explained.