Prakritik Kheti Khushhal Kissan Yojana
Prakritik Kheti Khushhal Kissan Yojana
The Government of Himachal Pradesh has proposed the Prakritik Kheti Khushhal Kissan Yojana to promote natural farming in the State. The scheme intends to provide subsidy with the financial assistance of Rs. 50,000 to encourage farmers for natural farming. In this article, we look at the Prakritik Kheti Khushhal Kissan Yojana in detail.
Objectives
The objectives of the Prakritik Kheti Khushhal Kissan Yojana are given below:
- To lessen the cost of cultivation and to make natural farming a sustainable livelihood option.
- To enhance crop production and earn better prices for their produces in the market.
- To create awareness among farming community about natural farming.
- To minimise the usage of chemical fertilisers and pesticides.
Eligibility Criteria
Any farmers residing in the State of Himachal Pradesh are eligible to participate under the Prakritik Kheti Khushhal Kissan Yojana.
Scope of the Scheme
The scheme will cover the activities being implemented by the department for the promotion of organic farming, Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY), Pramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) or any other scheme were related to natural farming are being implemented.
Nodal Department
The Department of Agriculture would act the nodal agency for implementing Prakritik Kheti Khushhal Kissan Yojana under zero budget natural farming system.
State Level Committee
The State Level Committee under the Directorate of Agriculture is responsible for planning, implementing and monitoring of the zero budget natural farming. Along with the State Level Committee, the District units will monitor and implement the scheme at District level and will function under the control of Deputy Director of Horticulture or Agriculture.
Incentives to Farmers
The following are the incentives offered under the Prakritik Kheti Khushhal Kissan Yojana:
Financial Assistance
Each farmer in the cluster would be provided assistance for establishing infrastructure for zero budget natural farming inputs. The maximum assistance would be finalised by the State on organic and natural farming based on the proposal submitted by State zero budget natural farming unit.
Prakritik Kheti Sansadhan Bhandar
Under the scheme, one-time assistance would be provided to the shop owner for obtaining external inputs, equipment, packing, containers, drums, rent etc.
Lining of Cattle Sheds
Zero Budget Natural Farming will be provided assistance for the lining of cattle sheds. The rate of assistance and norms would be worked out by the State Zero Budget Natural Farming unit and approved by the State task force.
Pest Control
The Department of Agriculture would provide assistance with the farmers for purchase of bio-pesticides, sticky traps, pheromone traps etc.
Fertility Management
Zero budget naturing farming would be implemented in a phased manner, and 100% of farmers will not be covered in the first instance. In order to facilitate other farmers who are practising organic farming, financial assistance would be provided on organic inputs approved by the certification bodies.
Organic Certification
Organic Certification is required to sell the produce in the market and assistance for such Certification would be provided to the group of farmers who are already certified. The new zero budget natural farming clusters will be considered for certification programme as per the availability.
Work Plan
The annual work plan is prepared every year by district units. The District plans would be implemented by the State unit, and State task force on natural farming will approve the work plans. The work plan will focus on covering the entire State under Natural Farming in a phased manner.
Approval of Work Plans and Financial Norms
The State task force on organic and natural farming under the Cheif Secretary would approve proposals regarding implementation of zero budget natural farming. The proposals for assistance would be executed after the concurrence of the State Finance Department.
Financial Norms under the Scheme
The financial norms under the Prakritik Kheti Khushhal Kissan Yojana are specified below:
Digital Media
Digital media would be used, and technological packages in the digital format will be developed and utilised for technology dissemination.
Farmer Motivators
For motivation and dissemination of technology, the farmer from the group will be selected. In addition to the above, another farmer will also be selected for monitoring and providing support to farmers of other groups.
Capacity Building of Extension Staff
The zero budget natural farming is a new concept developed in the State of Himachal Pradesh and hence training to extension workers is necessary, and extension staff would be trained in zero budget natural farming.
Training to Farmers
The farmers eligible would be trained in zero budget natural farming or any other related concept of natural farming. The training will be conducted in National, State, District level as per ATMA guidelines.
Mass awareness Campaign
Under this scheme, an awareness programme for the farmers would be organised by the involving experts.
Kisan Goshthis
To promote natural farming, Kisan Goshthis will be organised at the District and Block level.
Assistance to Farmers
The farmers will be incentivised for the development of basic infrastructure and off-farm inputs on the following cost norms:
- The assistance to the extent of 80% would be provided for the lining of cattle sheds.
- The assistance to the extent of 75% will be given to the farmers for providing drums. The maximum of three drums will be provided to individual farmers.
- The third-party certification would be adopted to facilitate marketing of the products under the Zero Budget National Farming.
- The farmer in each village would be assisted to open shop for the supply of zero budget natural farming inputs at simple rates. The maximum assistance of Rs. 50,000/- per shop will be given for three years. Also, such farmers will be eligible for other incentives available under the scheme.
Administrative Expenses
The new project at District and State level for promotion of zero budget natural farming will be set up. Thus new infrastructure is required to operate the programme.
