Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini urges farmers to embrace natural farming over chemical fertilizers

Haryana Chief Minister Sh Nayab Singh Saini has urged farmers to avoid the excessive use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides in their crops. He emphasized that for future generations to be empowered and healthy, a shift towards natural farming is essential.

Encouraging farmers to adopt organic methods, the Chief Minister highlighted that natural farming not only preserves soil fertility but also benefits the environment and public health. To promote natural farming, the Haryana Government is offering subsidies of up to Rs 30,000 to farmers for the purchase of indigenous cows, enabling them to adopt cow-based organic farming practices.

Sh Saini was addressing the gathering after inaugurating the Government Veterinary Polyclinic in village Biholi, district Kurukshetra, on Monday.  On this occasion, he also announced a grant of Rs 21 lakh for various development works in the village.The Chief Minister stated that the polyclinic, constructed at a cost of approximately Rs 4.67 crore, will provide specialized veterinary services to cattle in the surrounding areas.

The facility will offer a range of services including pathology, parasitology, gynecology, microbiology, surgery, ultrasound, X-ray, as well as indoor and outdoor units. Staffed with expert veterinary officers, technicians, and support staff, the polyclinic aims to become a model veterinary center in the region.

Referring to the current challenges in the animal husbandry sector, the Chief Minister said that today the price of milch animals runs not in thousands but in lakhs of rupees. This makes it difficult for landless and small farmers to afford such expensive livestock. Even if they manage to purchase one, they remain concerned about the cattle’s health. Under these circumstances, the importance of veterinary institutions has grown significantly.

He stated that presently, six government veterinary polyclinics operate across the state, located in Sirsa, Jind, Rohtak, Bhiwani, Sonipat, and Rewari. The newly inaugurated polyclinic in Kurukshetra now serves as the seventh center. In District Kurukshetra, 49 Government Veterinary Hospitals and 72 Government Veterinary Dispensaries are currently functioning.

Of the 51 veterinary doctor posts, 47 are filled, and out of 130 Veterinary Livestock Development Assistant (VLDA) posts, 119 have been staffed.Sh Nayab Singh Saini emphasized that the State Government is continuously working to protect and promote Gauvansh.

Over the past 10 years, approximately 650 Gaushalas have been established across Haryana. Before 2014, the government’s budget for Gaushalas was only Rs. 2 crores; however, the present government has increased this allocation to Rs. 515 crores to ensure that no Gauvansh remains destitute.

Haryana leading in milk production

The Chief Minister expressed pride in the farmers and cattle rearers of the state, whose hard work has earned Haryana a distinguished reputation in animal husbandry. Although the state accounts for only 2.1 percent of the country’s milch animals, it contributes 5.11 percent of India’s total milk production.

In 2023-24, Haryana produced 1 crore 22 lakh 20 thousand tonnes of milk. He expressed confidence that progressive cattle farmers will continue to increase this output. Haryana’s per capita daily milk availability is also 2.34 times the national average—while the national average is 471 grams, Haryana’s stands at 1105 grams.

The Chief Minister said that the government’s aim is to further boost milk production by improving cattle breeds.He said that under the Mukhyamantri Dugdh Utpadhak Protsahan Yojana , a subsidy of Rs 5 per liter is provided to general milk producers, while milk producers from poor families receive Rs 10 per liter.

Additionally, scholarships of Rs 2,100 are awarded to children of cooperative milk producers who score more than 80 percent in Class 10 exams, and Rs 5,100 for those passing Class 12. Apart from this, milk producers of cooperative milk producing societies are provided with accident insurance of Rs 10 lakh. So far, Rs 4.40 crore has been paid out against a total of 78 insurance claims.

He said that to provide financial security to cattle rearers, the ‘Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Samuhik Pashudhan Bima Yojana’ insures large cattle at a premium ranging from Rs 100 to Rs 300, based on their milk production capacity. Small livestock such as sheep, goats, and pigs are insured at a nominal premium of Rs 25 per livestock.

Livestock owned by Scheduled Caste beneficiaries in the state are insured free of cost. Since 2014, 15.90 lakh livestock have been insured under this scheme, with a total of 24,576 insurance claims worth Rs 97.40 crore settled. The scheme also provides financial assistance of up to Rs 1 lakh on the death of a registered milch animal.

Interest subsidy for setting up dairies

The Chief Minister stated that beneficiaries who establish dairy units of 20 to 50 milch animals receive an interest subsidy on bank loans taken for this purpose. In addition, a 25 percent subsidy is offered for setting up smaller dairy units of 2, 4, and 10 milch animals.

Incentives ranging from Rs 5,000 to Rs 20,000 are also provided to breeders of high milk-yielding indigenous breeds such as Hariana, Sahiwal, and Belahi cows to promote upliftment of indigenous cows. Since October 2014, 16,921 cattle farmers have benefited from this scheme.

Ladwa witnesses two-and-a-half times more development under current government compared to congress

Referring to the development works carried out in the Ladwa assembly constituency, the Chief Minister said that since 2024, development works worth approximately Rs 110 crore have been undertaken in the area, with some already completed and others ongoing. Over the past 10 years, the present government has undertaken development works worth Rs 794 crore in Ladwa.

In contrast, during the Congress regime, development works worth only Rs 310 crore were executed in the constituency. The public is aware of the widespread corruption that prevailed during that period, but our government has implemented development projects in a planned and transparent manner, not just in Ladwa but across every assembly constituency.

He added that under the Har Ghar Grihini Yojana, gas cylinders are being provided to 17 lakh women in the state at a subsidized rate of Rs 500. In the Ladwa area, 9,240 families benefit from this scheme. Additionally, under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, 364 houses have been constructed in the area, and 249 are currently under construction.

The Chief Minister emphasized that the government is now working not just twice but three times faster on development. So far, 22 Sankalp of the Sankalp Patra have been fulfilled, and 90 Sankalp are to be completed within this year.

State Government expanding natural farming and veterinary facilities: Agriculture Minister Shyam Singh Rana

On this occasion, Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Animal Husbandry, and Dairy Minister Sh Shyam Singh Rana thanked the Chief Minister for inaugurating the veterinary polyclinic. He said that this facility will provide improved medical care for animals in the region.

Sh Rana emphasized that the state government is not only promoting traditional farming but is also actively encouraging alternative sectors such as animal husbandry, horticulture, and fish farming to enhance farmers’ incomes.He said that during the Green Revolution, excessive use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides was employed to boost grain production across the country.

However, over time, this has adversely affected human health, livestock, and soil quality, leading to reduced soil fertility. Given these challenges, returning to natural farming practices has become essential.Sh Shyam Singh Rana highlighted that natural farming is currently being practiced on approximately 180 acres of land at the Gurukul campus, serving as a model example.

He urged farmers to learn from this model and adopt natural farming methods. He said that natural farming not only yields nutritious and healthy food but also enhances soil fertility and helps recharge groundwater levels.He said that to promote natural farming, the government is offering a subsidy of up to Rs 30,000 for the purchase of indigenous cows.

Sh Rana added that the government plans to establish a market to ensure that produce from natural farming receives fair prices. He said that every family should keep a cow at home.On this occasion, Chairman, Livestock Development Board Sh Dharamvir Mirzapur, former Minister Sh Subhash Sudha and Director General of Animal Husbandry Department Dr. Prem Singh along with other dignitaries were present.