The Punjab government on Wednesday introduced a special 'vegetable initiative in urban cluster' scheme in order to encourage the farmers towards diversification.

Punjab Agriculture Minister , Sucha Singh Langah said that state government has made all preparation to implement this special scheme to encourage farmers towards diversification. He said that at least 15 farmers could make a group, who would cultivate the crop on 20 hectares of land besides marketing. He said that Punjab government would provide a subsidy of Rs 2 lakh for the crop cultivation while 50% subsidy would also be given on the processing equipments with an aim to divert the attention of farmers towards cash crops.

Mr Langah said that the scheme would be introduced in five districts including Ludhiana, Patiala, Fatehgarh Sahib, Jalandhar and Sangrur in first phase, which would be further implemented across the state, while Ludhiana would be the center of scheme. He said that government would also facilitate the farmers with the marketing facilities, so they could make the scheme a success without any obstacle.

The Minister said that government would give subsidies and grants to the farmers on the basis of their cluster areas and groups. He said that each group would get subsidy of Rs 2 lakh for the formation of group while another subsidy of Rs 22500 to 33700 would be given for the cultivation of crop for per hectare. He said that farmers could also get subsidy of Rs 2.10 lakh for poly and net houses for vegetable cultivation and 50% subsidy would also be given on 4000 square meter area. He said that agriculture department has been working on war level to provide best marketing facilities to the farmers.

Mr Langah said that a 50% subsidy would also be given for setting up of retail shops for marketing of vegetables , formation of vegetable collection center, mobile vending cart and for processing units. He said that interested farmers could approach the district horticulture officer to form a group, which would be registered under Societies Registration Act-1860.

Source: India Brand Equity Foundation
Date: June 30, 2011