Increased Budgetary Allocation To Puducherry's Agriculture Sector

Under the 'Paramparaghat Krishi Vikas Yojana' Scheme, the budget presented in the Assembly by Chief Minister N. Rangasamy proposed to promote organic farming practices. It proposed to nurture approximately 600 hectares of organic farming land between 2023-24 and 2024-2025.

The Puducherry Budget for 2023-24 announced a slew of measures aimed at boosting agriculture and farmers' welfare, including additional incentives, encouraging the cultivation of traditional paddy varieties, establishing seed hubs, and introducing solar-powered borewells for ryots.

The Budget proposes to encourage organic farming, use recycled crop residues and farm animal waste, extend production incentives at 8,000 per acre for two paddy growing seasons to promote traditional varieties of paddy and increase income for farmers growing traditional varieties under organic farming and extend a 50% subsidy for the purchase of 1,000-liter capacity portable biers.

The Budget proposed an additional input subsidy of 2,000 to the existing production incentive of 3,000 per acre for pulses as part of additional production incentives. The production incentive for groundnuts would be increased from 5,000 to 8,000 per acre, sesame from 3,000 to 5,000 per acre, and millets from 5,000 to 7,000 per acre.

It is also proposed to implement a Micro Irrigation Scheme for NABARD using funds from the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) and the Micro Irrigation Fund, with a subsidy of 90% for small and marginal farmers, 75% for large farmers, and free for Scheduled Caste farmers.

It is proposed in the Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization scheme to continue the distribution of tractors, power tillers, combined harvesters, drones, etc., to farmers, as well as distribution of organic agricultural inputs at 75% subsidy and free of cost to Scheduled Caste farmers, to improve soil health and agricultural production.

Mr. Rangasamy stated that the government, which already provides free electricity to farmers operating motor pump sets for agricultural purposes, would consult with the Renewable Energy Agency Puducherry to explore the possibility of implementing solar power-operated borewells for farmers. A sum of one crore has been set aside for this purpose.

It is also proposed to increase the subsidy to 75% for general farmers and 90% for Scheduled Caste farmers, as well as to set up "seed villages" and "seed hubs" for seed production and timely distribution.

The Budget proposed increasing the incentive for seed production by 10 and 12 percent for certified paddy and groundnut/pulse seeds, respectively, and 14 and 17 percent for foundation paddy and groundnut/pulse seeds.

In celebration of its golden jubilee, a sum of one crore has been allocated to the Perunthalaivar Kamarajar Krishi Vigyan Kendra, the country's first Krishi Vigyan Kendra, to construct a training center, farmers' rest house, and rehabilitation of existing buildings, as well as an Integrated Agricultural Extension Centre with a seating capacity of 50. Among the other proposals are a farmers' meeting hall in Ariyur and Karikalampakkam, as well as an integrated agricultural complex in the Office of the Joint Director of Agriculture in Villianur for the Agricultural Engineering and Horticulture sections.

It is proposed to implement a new scheme for farmers cultivating jasmine on 5 to 10 cents of land to encourage agricultural export. Ground Water Recharging Scheme will be implemented through rainwater harvesting and recharging with surplus water.

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