•₹50-Crore Scheme to Benefit Over 2.42 Lakh Farmers by Ensuring High-Quality Certified Seeds & Easing Financial Burden, says Khudian
CHANDIGARH, OCTOBER 25:
To ensure access to premium quality seed and reduce financial stress on the state farmers, Punjab Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian on Sunday announced a Rs 50-crore assistance scheme under which farmers will get certified, PAU and ICAR recommended wheat seeds for the State of Punjab at half price, capped at Rs 2,000 per hectare.
Sharing details of the initiative, S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian said that certified wheat seeds priced at Rs 4,250 per quintal will be available to farmers for Rs 2,250 per quintal after adjusting the Rs 2,000 per quintal subsidy upfront at the time of purchase. The subsidy is capped at 50% of the cost or Rs 2,000 per hectare, whichever is less, aimed at helping farmers prepare quality seeds and build their farm-saved stock.
The Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Department has projected a district-wise requirement to cover 2,42,218 beneficiaries, with a total proposed financial outlay of Rs 50 crore at a maximum assistance of Rs 2,000 per beneficiary. The scheme is being executed under the National Food Security and Nutrition Mission (NFSNM) – Seed Components under the Krishonnati Yojana, he added.
To ensure a seamless and transparent application process, S. Khudian said that eligible farmers will have to visit their respective District or Block Agriculture offices with their Aadhaar cards and apply through the designated portal — http://www.agrimachinerypb.com — where their identity will be verified via an Aadhaar-linked OTP.
As a major quality-control measure, the Agriculture Minister said that the subsidy will be applicable only to certified wheat varieties recommended by Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana and notified by the ICAR or Punjab Government, that are up to 10 years old. He said nodal agencies responsible for seed multiplication will be held strictly accountable for seed quality and any complaints regarding quality will be addressed by the concerned nodal agency.
To prevent misuse of funds and ensure targeted delivery, the department has put in place strict checks including first-come, first-served assistance as per district and block-wise targets, a two-year cooling-off period for beneficiaries as per Government of India guidelines, mandatory maintenance of complete records by Chief Agriculture Officers and detailed registers by Block Agriculture Officers and random verification of beneficiaries, seed quantity and subsidy amount before final approval by the head office. He advised farmers to strictly follow the prescribed online procedure and rely only on official departmental communications.
Highlighting Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann-led state government’s commitment to farmer welfare, S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian stated, “Our government is committed to ensuring that farmers get the best agricultural inputs without falling into financial distress. By strictly regulating seed quality and implementing a transparent, tech-driven distribution process, we are not only securing the upcoming wheat harvest but also ensuring that public funds are utilised with absolute accountability.”
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