Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar asked the marginal farmers to adopt the latest technology and form groups to increase their income.
“It is necessary in view the decreasing land holdings,” he said, while addressing the concluding ceremony of the four-day-long 12th ‘Krishi Vigyan Congress Sammelan’ in Karnal.
He also asked them play a crucial role in bringing about milk revolution, for which state government has earmarked Rs 119 crore under ‘Gau Samwardhan’ scheme.
Sammelan was organised jointly by the New Delhi-based National Academy of Agricultural Sciences, New National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI) and Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).
He said a better scheme was being framed to provide irrigation facility right up to the tail-ends of farms.
The state government was making efforts to bring water to the farmers from Satluj-Yamuna-Link and Hansi-Butana Canal, he said.
Storage capacities would be built in the hilly areas of Haryana for storing water for irrigation, he said, adding the state government was laying special emphasis on cold storage and warehousing to increase the income of farmers.
Khattar further said that national-level agriculture seminar would be held in March in Gurgaon to give knowledge to the farmers and make them aware of the latest technologies.
He urged the scientists to make the farmers aware about pros and cons of using organic manure and chemical fertilisers.
The Chief Minister said that the government would soon enact ‘Gau Samwardhan Kanoon’, law for the protection of cows.
“Because of small houses, it has become difficult for people to rear cows at home. Therefore, ‘Gau Greh’ (houses for cow) would be set up in villages for 100-200 cows so that these could be reared collectively,” he said.
Haryana Government was also giving 50 per cent grant for rearing of cows, he said, adding ‘Haryana’ and ‘Sahiwal’ breed of domestic cows were being promoted for rearing of cows.