The Uttar Pradesh government has decided to increase the quantity of subsidised rabi seeds to counter a whopping 50% decline in the kharif crop production, which has been hit by drought.
It has decided to increase the subsidised quantity of wheat, pulses, oilseeds and barley, to be distributed among the farmers, by almost three fold.
While last year, 12 lakh quintal of subsidised seeds was supplied to farmers for the rabi crop, this year it has been hiked to 34 lakh quintals, out of which 30.5 lakh quintal seeds will be given out for wheat only. A subsidy of Rs 900 per quintal has been fixed for wheat and barley seeds while Rs 2,000 per quintal has been fixed for seeds of pulses and oilseeds. State agriculture minister, Lakshmi Narayan said that in order to sensitise the farmers, the government has also decided to organise interactive kisan melas in all the 9 agri-climatic regions of the state from October 2 to 30, in which agricultural experts and scientists will educate the farmers about the scientific crop practices and the latest agricultural techniques.
Against the target of 172 lakh metric tonne of foodgrains in the kharif season, the expected production is slated to be close to 85 lakh million tonne.