Seeds at subsidised rates for all farmers

 
The facility was hitherto restricted to small and marginal farmers only. Farmers with a  holding of five acres were categorised as small farmers and those with 2.5 acres as marginal farmers. These categories were provided with seeds at subsidised rates through Farmer Contact Centres.

Large farmers, with a holding of more than five acres stand to benefit with the  government’s decision to do away with the criteria this year.

The revised scheme however comes with a caveat - seeds for a maximum of two hectares of land will only be provided at concessional rates. It has been decided to extend the facility under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Scheme, through Karnataka Seeds Mission. The Commissioner for Agriculture Department has issued a circular in this regard in April this year.

Instructions have been given to officers implement the scheme from this year itself. The benefit of the scheme is available in all the districts across the state except Chikmagalur, Hassan, Shimoga, Kodagu, Belgaum and Chitradurga which are covered under Prime Minister’s Rehabilitation Package. The scheme is also being financed with the funds provided to districts identified as backward, on the basis of report  Dr Nanjundappa committee on regional imbalance.

Conditions have been formulated to prevent misuse of the scheme. Seeds must be distributed to farmers only through co-operative societies. The seeds so given should not be resold. The rate quoted by the company approved for supply of seeds should be taken into consideration.

The seeds required for respective districts have already been supplied. They will be made available to the target population up to August 31.

The scheme, apart from streamlining the availability of seeds, will also go a long way in curbing the menace of fake seeds as well as blackmarketing.

Highlights

* Large farmers, with holding of more than five acres are also eligible
* Seeds for two hectares of land will be provided
* Co-operative societies to distribute seeds upto August 31
* Facility not available in districts covered under the Prime Minister’s Rehabilitation Package