UP government to provide RuPay credit cards to 90 lakh farmers

Uttar Pradesh government will provide RuPay credit cards to 90 lakh small and marginal farmers so that they could avail the facility of agriculture loan for farming.

Discussing ways and means to improve income of farmers during divisional Kharif produce meeting held here on Monday, state’s agriculture produce commissioner Raj Pratap Singh said that 90 lakh small and marginal farmers in the state have no access to agriculture loans.

He said that state government has decided to provide them RuPay credit cards by seeking help of NABARD. He informed that district magistrates have been asked to finalize the list of these farmers by June 30 so that cards could be distributed to them in the first week of a July.

Singh said that Neeti Ayog has supported contract farming and process has begun to launch this concept which would be beneficial for farmers. Sharing his views over declaring agriculture as industry, he said it would deprive farmers from benefits of rebate, subsidies and income tax.

Principal secretary, dairy development, Sudhir M Bobde said that a three layer policy has been formulated for stray livestock in the state. In short term policy castration would be carried out of livestock of age less than three months. In mid-term policy, cow shelters will be established in the districts to keep stray animals and government has allocated Rs32 crore for it. In long term policy, classified semen centres will be opened and a similar centre will be established in Babugarh of district Hapur for quality breeding of livestock.

Principal secretary, sugar industry and sugarcane development Sanjay R Bhoosareddy informed that 16 out of total 119 sugarmills of the state are still operational. He said state government is committed for payment of farmers’ sugarcane dues.

Principal secretary, agriculture, Amit Mohan Prasad said that ‘Kisan Pathak’ will be organised for farmers in two phases beginning from June 21 in order to update them with new technologies and other aspects required for better farming.

Commissioner of Meerut division stressed on multiple cropping and soil testing for increasing produce.

A group of farmers from different districts of Meerut and Saharanpur divisions were also invited in the meeting. Farmer Bharat Bhusan Tyagi of Syana in district Bulandshahr suggested to encourage organic farming and teach farmers to produce maximum crop at minimum price.