Eleven districts in Haryana will be covered in the first phase of ‘Vegetable Initiative’ programme for urban cluster scheme launched under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana. According to a spokesman, the central government had approved an allocation of Rs 300 crore for 2011-12 for implementing the ‘Vegetable Initiative’ all across the country to boost production and generate income for farmers.
The districts to be covered in Haryana under the scheme include Gurgaon, Faridabad, Palwal, Mewat, Rewari, Jhajjar, Rohtak, Sonipat, Panipat, Karnal and Kurukshetra.
The programme would be launched near major urban centres. This initiative is an effort by the Centre to leverage the growing demand for vegetables by increasing its productivity and market linkage.
Special initiative for the development of vegetables has been mooted with 100 per cent central assistance under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana, to address such issues as assured availability of safe and good quality vegetables at affordable prices.
Under the scheme Farmers Association and groups of farmers would be organised for vegetable cultivation. The scheme would cover aspects relating to formation of farmers’ associations, training, linking farmer groups to the markets, vegetable supply to urban centres. Subsidy would be provided on the basis of the area or land pooled for cultivation. The minimum land requirement would be 20 hectares and the groups should comprise at least 20 farmers each.
