After a tough summer due to sub-normal rains that led to deficit in Kharif sowing, the Centre on Wednesday asked states to focus on Rabi (winter) crops so that the possible shortfall can be made up and proposed to provide finance to 5 lakh "joint farming groups" in the current financial year.

Though sowing of Kharif crops showed a steady increase last week, it could not made up the June-July deficit. The total sown area as on September 12 stands at 999.18 lakh hectare as compared to 1032.88 lakh hectare at this time last year.

Dismissing the fear of a huge drop in area under Kharif crops, the agriculture minister Radha Mohan Singh said, "Acreage is down only by 3% so far, despite 11% deficit in monsoon rains. The situation is much better than the drought year of 2009".

Measures to be taken up to make up for the Kharif deficit were discussed in the Rabi conference where the agriculture minister promised to come up with a number of farmer friendly measures in coming months.

These measures include launching of a new agriculture insurance scheme by the year end, opening up 'Kisan Mandi' in Delhi this month end and distribution of 14 crore 'soil health cards' to farmers across the country by 2016-17.

Inaugurating the conference, Singh said finance to 5 lakh 'joint farming groups' of "Bhoomi Heen Kisan" will be provided through NABARD.

At present, a very large number of landless farmers are unable to provide land title as guarantee to banks. As a result, institutional finance is denied to them and they become vulnerable to money lenders' usurious lending.

It is expected that the 'Kisan Mandi' will help consumers get fruits and vegetables at reasonable prices as the farmers would be able to directly sell their produce to them without intervention of traders and middlemen. Other parts of the country will also have similar 'Mandis' in coming months.

Referring to deteriorating soil health that has led to sub-optimal utilisation of farming resources, Singh said, "The government has already formulated a 'Mission' to provide every farmer with Soil Health Card. While 3 crore cards will be issued in the current financial year, 5.50 crore cards will be distributed next financial year and remaining 5.50 crore in 2016-17".

He said 100 Mobile Soil Testing Laboratories (MSTLs) will also be set up in year 2014-15.

The card will carry crop wise recommendations of nutrientsfertilisers required for farms, making it possible for farmers to improve productivity by wisely using inputs.

Expressing the need to promote organic farming, Singh said his ministry has framed guidelines under "Bhartiya Paramparagat Krishi Vikash Pariyojana" to promote organic farming and to develop potential markets for organic products.

"Aim of the project is to maximize the utilisation of natural resources through eco-friendly cultivation", he said.

Source - http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/