• Rs.100 per KG to be provided as subsidy on purchase of hybrid maize seeds, says Gurmeet Singh Khudian
• 4700 hectares to under maize demonstrations and Rs. 6K financial assistance to be provided per hectare for various inputs
• Punjab doubles the kharif maize cultivation target to increase it to record 2 lakh hectares
Chandigarh, June 30:
In order to make Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann’s ambitious farm diversification plan a huge success in the state, Punjab Agriculture and Farmers Welfare department has decided to provide subsidy on hybrid seeds of kharif maize and cover over 4700 hectares area under maize demonstrations.
Disclosing this here today in a press communiqué, Punjab Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian informed that farmers can avail Rs.100 as a subsidy on purchase of every 1-kg of hybrid maize seeds certified and recommended by Punjab Agricultural University (PAU). The subsidy for hybrid kharif maize seeds will be provided for a maximum 5 acres of area or 40-KGs per farmer and a total amount of 2300 quintal seeds will be made available to the state farmers at a subsidized price.
Under maize demonstrations, he further said that a total area of 4700 hectares will be covered for which farmers will receive financial support of Rs. 6000/- per hectare for various inputs including fertilizers, insecticides etc.
To wean off the state farmers from water-guzzling paddy crop to save the groundwater, the Agriculture Minister said the state has set a target to cultivate kharif maize on a record 2 lakh hectares, almost double as compared to the last year.
Urging the state farmers to take maximum benefits of the scheme, S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian said that the subsidy amount will be directly transferred to the beneficiary farmers’ bank accounts through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) scheme to ensure transparency. Interested farmers of the state can submit their application at online portal agrimachinerypb.com to avail the subsidy on the hybrid maize seeds.
He also asked the Agriculture department authorities to ensure close monitoring of seeds being sold in the state and only quality seeds should be made available to the farmers.
