Delhi, 13 January (H.S.): Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan said in the review meeting of the Agriculture and Farmers Ministry on Monday that agriculture and farmers are very important for the country and its people. Every week there is some change in the conditions of farming, so we have decided that weekly review of the agriculture situation will be done every Monday. As an exception, if there is any reason that the review cannot be done on Monday, then we will postpone it by a day or two, but weekly review will be done. Removing the problems of farmers is our top priority and every officer-employee should be sensitive towards this.

Union Minister Shivraj Singh said that in the weekly review, the condition of crops, whether there is any disease in the crops, if there is any disease, then what can be the immediate measures to prevent it, for this, along with issuing advisory to the state governments, Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVK) will be made aware, then if there is a need to send a team for prevention of the related disease, then a team will also be sent. Also, whether medicines are available or not, and not only pesticides, but their price should also be controlled, because many times farmers have complained that there is no MRP on pesticides. Such a situation should not arise, farmers should get pesticides and medicines to prevent crop diseases at the prescribed price, in this regard, we will request the state governments to follow the rules and farmers should get pesticides at reasonable prices.

Shivraj Singh said that along with this, the weather conditions and its effect on crops will also be reviewed. If the crop is coming, what is the condition of the crop, information about the production, how much potential production is going to come to us in the market, if the farmer gets the right price for it, then measures have to be taken for that, and based on this, if the crops are damaged due to adverse weather, then the damage and its assessment, the benefit of crop insurance scheme. Now these are not such subjects for which we have to wait to hold a meeting after a month and hence we will review every week to keep an eye on everything. We will hold meetings with every department and whatever steps are necessary for the welfare of the farmer, crop improvement and agricultural production, all those steps will be taken.

Union Agriculture Minister Chauhan said that the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare is continuously working for the welfare of the farmers. The purchase of soybean is going on at the minimum support price and till now we have purchased a record 13 lakh 68 thousand 660 metric tonnes of soybean. Chauhan said that there was a demand from the Maharashtra government that the deadline for soybean purchase should be extended till January 31, so for the Maharashtra government, we are extending the deadline for soybean purchase till January 31. The government of Rajasthan has also demanded to extend the deadline for soybean purchase till February 4, so soybean purchase will continue in Rajasthan till February 4. Telangana state had demanded additional purchase, so that has also been extended.

While talking to the media in the ministry, Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh said that 56 new watershed development projects have been approved by the Department of Land Resources, in which more than Rs 700 crore will be spent and ultimately these watersheds will be used to prevent soil erosion and to conserve water and to increase the level of groundwater, these decisions have been taken today.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar