Amid the controversy over new farm bills of the state, Punjab’s CM Amarinder Singh has given his approval to the “Wheat Seed Subsidy Policy 2020-2021”. As proposed by the Agriculture Department, the state has decided to do so in order to provide the farmers with 100% certified as well as at a low cost of 50% subsidy during the Rabi season.
Wheat is supposed to be cultivated in about 35 Lakh hectare area during the Rabi season of 2020-2021 in the entire state of Punjab.
Farmers Need to Submit Applications before 1st November
All the farmers are supposed to submit their applications are the Agriculture Department offices in their respective areas from 1st of November in order to avail the subsidy.
According to the statement released by an official, under the scheme around 1.85 Lakh quintals of seeds of Rs. 18.50 crore worth of subsidy would directly benefit around 2.5 Lakh farmers. This policy would allow the subsidy for wheat seeds for a maximum of 5 acre of land.
Under the policy Rs.1000 per quintal or the subsidy equalling 50% of total cost of seeds will be transferred to the applicant farmer’s bank accounts.
Amarinder Singh directed the Agriculture Department to provide the subsidised seeds first to the small and marginal farmers. He also cleared that only eligible farmers should get the subsidy benefits and also that the subsidy amount must be directly transferred to the respective eligible farmers bank accounts.
The CM also asked the Additional Chief Secretary (Development), Anirudh Tewari in order to issue detailed information containing notice for all the members of the Agriculture department to closely monitor the seeds distribution in the respective areas, also the seeds which are to be sold to the farmers must be of high quality. These are the measures which all the officers as well as the staff members must have a look on as per the notice.
Adding to the notice he even had warned that for any complaint received or any malpractice is found during the distribution of seeds the concerned officers/employees of seed agencies including the district and block level agriculture officers would be held responsible.
Additional Chief Secretary (Development), Anirudh Tewari said that the Agriculture Department has already ensured that all the required arrangements have been made in order to provide the farmers with the subsidised wheat seeds.
