Chandigarh, January 9 – Haryana Chief Minister Sh Nayab Singh Saini said that the state’s double-engine government is consistently working towards the welfare of farmers. Our goal is to enhance farmers’ income and make them economically prosperous. He said that 70 percent of the state’s farmers own less land, necessitating a special strategy for their upliftment. The Chief Minister further said that the upcoming budget must include provisions aimed at increasing farmers’ profits to empower them economically.
The Chief Minister was addressing a pre-budget consultation meeting at Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University in Hisar today, where he took suggestions from progressive farmers regarding their upliftment. Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Sh. Shyam Singh Rana, Public Health Engineering Minister Sh. Ranbir Gangwa, MLA Sh Vinod Bhyana,and Sh. Randhir Panihar were also present.
During the discussion, the Chief Minister engaged in one-on-one interactions with the farmers. In the first session, over 52 suggestions were shared by the farmers. Along with progressive farmers, agricultural experts also participated in the session. In the second session, discussions were held with farmers associated with Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), and members of the FPO federation also contributed their suggestions.
*Government working to ensure good income for farmers with small landholdings*
The Chief Minister said that the suggestions shared during today’s discussions will be incorporated into the upcoming budget. He said that the state government is particularly focused on the welfare of farmers, with special attention being given to increasing their income and strengthening their position. He said that agriculture contributes 18 percent to Haryana’s GDP and expressed the government’s intention to implement measures that would ensure small landholding farmers can earn a good income. For this, initiatives like e-mandi and other options are being developed.
The Chief Minister further remarked that, in the past, transporting produce to the market was a significant challenge. However, under the leadership of Prime Minister Sh Narendra Modi, the country’s road and rail connectivity network has been significantly strengthened, making it easier to transport crops across regions. He highlighted the progress made by the country over the last 10 years, particularly under the Prime Minister’s leadership. Today, the government is introducing new initiatives to benefit farmers, including the promotion of organic farming. The Chief Minister also praised the efforts of Gujarat Governor Acharya Devvrat in advancing organic farming practices.
*Farmers should adopt crop diversification*
The Chief Minister urged farmers to adopt crop diversification, encouraging them to move away from traditional farming practices. He said that diversification could significantly increase farmers’ income. He also encouraged farmers to focus on the production of coarse grains, adding that the Prime Minister Sh Narendra Modi has made efforts to bring coarse grains to the global stage.
During his address, the Chief Minister highlighted the success of strawberry farming in village Syadhwa, Hisar, praising the hard work of local farmers in cultivating strawberries. He also mentioned the cultivation of Kinnow in Sirsa. He stressed that farmers must explore innovative approaches beyond traditional farming to improve their income and achieve sustainable growth.
*People can give suggestions online regarding Budget 2025*
The Chief Minister said that the state government has launched a portal for receiving suggestions related to the General Budget of Haryana for the year 2025-26. Through this portal, common citizens, progressive farmers, and representatives associated with Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) can submit their suggestions. He assured that these suggestions would be taken into account and incorporated into the budget.
Chief Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, Sh. Rajesh Khullar, Additional Chief Secretary Finance Department, Sh Anurag Rastogi, Additional Chief Secretary Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Department, Sh. Raja Shekhar Vundru, Additional Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Dr. Saket Kumar, Vice Chancellor of Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University, Prof. BR Kamboj and other dignitaries were present on this occasion.
