Chhattisgarh: Organic seed bank set up in Balrampur for farmers

The District Administration at Balrampur (Chattisgarh) has set up an organic seeds bank to provide free seeds to farmers. The bank provides the farmers with free seeds in return of 2 kg of the farmer's cash crops. "Farmers get free seeds from us, if they take 1 kg seeds from us they need to return 2 kg, once their crop is harvested," the Deputy Collector RS Lal said. 

Chattisgarh Chief Minister announces 'Fasal Bima' scheme

Earlier, this year Chattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh Bhupesh Singh Baghel announced the ' Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana' that will allow farmers to mitigate the risk of abiotic stresses like drought and flood, the State will ensure 100% coverage of farmers under Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana by 2020.  

"Without freeing farmers from the clutches of debts, their condition and that of their villages cannot be improved. Therefore, in the first cabinet meeting, it was decided to waive loans to the tune of Rs 6,230 crore of around 16.65 lakh farmers," the CM had said.

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Chattisgarh enrols APMC markets under E-Nam

The state also plans to enrol all APMC markets (Agricultural produce market) on e-NAM (National Agriculture Market) by the end of 2020. Farmers’ collectives will be organized to help farmers sell their produce directly to consumers/traders across the nation and fetch better prices. The State will promote collective marketing-/cooperative approach through organized channels, including the Jharkhand State Adivasi Cooperative Vegetable Marketing Federation.

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Chattisgarh Government waives off irrigation taxes

In 2019, the Chattisgarh Government announced to waive farmer's outstanding irrigation taxes worth Rs 207 crore. This came just over a month after the state government decided to waive farmers' short-term agricultural loans worth Rs 6,230 crore and hike the MSP for paddy to Rs 2,500. "irrigation tax to the tune of Rs 207 crore pending from around last 15 years as on October 2018 will be written off. As many as 15 lakh farmers will be benefited from the decision," he had said. 

(With ANI inputs)

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