Chandigarh (Balwinder Singh): Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini has reiterated the state government’s commitment to purchasing all crops at the Minimum Support Price (MSP), while outlining plans to improve irrigation, promote natural farming and increase farmers’ income.
Speaking at an agriculture conference at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, Saini said Haryana’s farmers play an important role in filling the country’s food grain reserves through their hard work. He said the government is focusing on reducing cultivation costs, ensuring fair prices for crops and encouraging farmers to diversify beyond traditional agriculture.
The Chief Minister said the state was working to expand irrigation facilities, conserve water, improve soil health and promote the use of modern agricultural technology. He also urged farmers to explore new crops and agriculture-based industries to improve their earnings.
Haryana Working On Water Storage And Irrigation Projects
Saini said work was underway on nearly 2,000 ponds under the Amrit Sarovar scheme. The initiative includes building new ponds and restoring existing ones to conserve rainwater and help improve groundwater levels.
The government is also focusing on repairing and strengthening canals and drains to reduce water wastage.
To improve irrigation access, the state is planning clusters covering 100, 200 and 500 acres. Large water storage tanks will be developed in these clusters, with capacity to store approximately one month’s water requirement. Solar pumps will then supply water to fields through sprinkler irrigation systems.
According to Saini, the arrangement is expected to help irrigate larger areas with less water.
Renukaji, Kishau And Lakhwar Dams To Strengthen Water Supply
The Chief Minister said an agreement involving five states had been reached for the Renukaji, Kishau and Lakhwar dam projects under the leadership of Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
Water from these projects is expected to benefit Haryana, Delhi, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, helping strengthen future water availability. Saini said the government was working towards better management of natural water resources to reduce the risk of water shortages for future generations.
Haryana Government Reiterates MSP Procurement Commitment
Saini said Haryana was the first state to guarantee the procurement of all crops at the MSP determined by the Centre. He added that the policy was also intended to encourage crop diversification and reduce dependence on water-intensive crops such as paddy.
The state is also promoting natural farming. Saini said an arrangement had been made with farmers in the Morni block to procure naturally grown produce directly from their farms, provided it is cultivated without chemical fertilisers and pesticides.
He further said that more than 40 lakh farmers had registered around 1.5 lakh hectares of land for natural farming on the state portal. At present, natural farming is being practised on approximately 45,000 hectares, according to the Chief Minister.
The government is also working on making agricultural land owned by panchayats and the Agriculture Department available to farmers on a 10-year lease for natural farming.
The Haryana State Cooperative Supply and Marketing Federation (HAFED) has been assigned responsibility for procuring naturally grown grains in mandis. The produce will undergo laboratory testing before procurement.
Saini also highlighted the Bhavantar Bharpai Yojana, which aims to protect horticulture farmers against market price fluctuations and losses.
Soil Testing And Natural Farming Cluster In Kurukshetra
The Chief Minister said soil health and reducing excessive use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides were among the government’s priorities.
Soil testing laboratories at district and block levels are being used to assess farmland and guide farmers on the required quantities of fertilisers and pesticides. Saini said soil testing was being carried out for the land of approximately 40–45 lakh farmers.
He also announced a special 2,000-acre natural farming cluster in Kurukshetra.
PM-KISAN Assistance For Small And Marginal Farmers
Saini said the Centre’s Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme provides eligible small and marginal farmers with financial assistance of Rs 6,000 annually.
The amount helps farmers meet expenses related to seeds, fertilisers and agricultural medicines, he said.
The Chief Minister added that the Centre and Haryana governments were implementing schemes aimed at reducing the cost of cultivation and ensuring farmers receive fair prices for their produce.
