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Patna,(BiharTimes): A major initiative has been taken to provide subsidies to farmers for taking up organic farming of vegetables and to check rampant use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides on vegetable farms.
Under this initiative, 50 per cent Central government subsidy is available to organic farmers for creating greenhouses and sheds.
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The state government is providing 40 per cent subsidy for organic farming to farmers from its own resources. Thus 90 per cent subsidy is available to farmers.
According to agriculture minister Narendra Singh the initial step was taken in 2010-11 under a policy for cluster development for organic vegetable farming at Sohdih village in Nalanda district.
As the results were positive it led to certification of organic farming in 500 hectares in Nalanda, Patna and Vaishali districts last year.
He said the positive results prompted the government to launch organic farming of vegetables with brand name of JaiB in these three districts by increasing the organic farming areas to 6,000 hectares.
The minister said that the initiative would continue for the next four years and incentives and subsidies would be given to the farmers to take up organic farming of vegetables across the state.
Narendra also said that a Diara (riverine) Development Scheme has also been launched to take up organic farming in 8,570 hectares of land in diara areas of several districts.
Agriculture specialist Anil Kumar Jha said that under vegetable initiative, the farmers are being provided 75 per cent subsidy for taking up organic farming. A national-level agency would provide certification for the vegetables grown using organic farming.
He said branding of such vegetables would enhance their market value. Jha said that organic vegetables are available in some markets in Patna town on pull-carts and power-carts which have coolant facilities to keep the vegetables fresh and well preserved. Hundred per cent subsidies are being provided for running 200 pull- and power-carts with coolant facilities in three districts.
Besides, the government is contemplating to open kiosks for marketing organic vegetables. Initially, the subsidies would be given for creation of 62 green houses and poly houses.
Small Farmers Agriculture Business Consortium (SFAC), a Central government undertaking, will organize the organic vegetable farmers into groups and help the government in transforming these farmers into entrepreneurs. The SFAC will act as a link between the farmers and big agencies for marketing their organic farm produce.
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