Rajasthan govt sets up Rs 1,000 crore Farmers Welfare Fund
The Rajasthan government has constituted the Rs 1,000-crore Farmers Welfare Fund to provide them reasonable prices for agricultural produce and boost their income.
The Rajasthan government has constituted a Rs-1,000 crore Farmers Welfare Fund to provide them a reasonable price for agricultural produce and boost their income.
Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot launched the fund at the 'Kisan Sammelan' held here on Tuesday on completion of one year of the current state government.
The welfare fund was announced by the Chief Minister in the Budget presented in July.
"The fund has been created so that farmers get a reasonable price for agricultural produce, timely payment of subsidy, insurance claim settlement, and timely interest-free loans, besides benefits in other farmer welfare schemes," Gehlot said, addressing the gathering.
"I would appeal to farmers to use new techniques and take the benefits of government schemes so that farming becomes profitable," he added.
Reiterating his election manifesto promise, Gehlot said farmers aspiring to set up food processing units will not have to change land use on land of up to 10 hectares. Such units will get a total subsidy of Rs 2 crore, including Rs 1 crore on capital investment and Rs 1 crore on interest.
The 'Rajasthan Agro Processing, Agribusiness and Agri Export Promotion Policy-2019' was also released on the occasion. The policy's objective is to encourage agro-processing and agricultural exports and increase farmers' income in the state.
The policy includes grants for setting up warehouses, cold storage, collection centres, and packhouse facilities.
It has provisioned a separate fund of Rs 500 crore in Rajasthan State Cooperative Bank to ensure bank loans to farmers, a grant of up to Rs 20 lakh every year on export of organic agri products, and a grant of up to Rs 10 lakh on solar power plants.
The Chief Minister also said the state government will not let the burden of power tariff hikes fall on farmers.
"Rajasthan government is providing power at 0.90 paise per unit tariff to farmers and is providing Rs 12,000 crore as subsidy. The power tariffs are about to rise, but I want to be clear that government will not let the burden come on to farmers. The government will bear the burden," Gehlot added.
Referring to the state government's achievements in the first year, Gehlot said he and his cabinet colleagues have provided sensitive, transparent, and accountable administration as expected by the people. In future too the government will always stand with the people in every happiness and sorrow, he said.
Gehlot also advocated a master plan for villages like cities. "We have a dream of preparing a master plan of every village," he said.
The state government also announced the provision of a 5 percent subsidy on interest to farmers of Bhumi Vikas Bank who make timely payments on loans.
(Edited by Athirupa Geetha Manichandar)
