Chandigarh, May 2 – Haryana Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Sh. Shyam Singh Rana has directed officials to ensure the complete and effective utilization of the allocated budget across all schemes of the Agriculture Department, so that farmers can derive maximum benefit. He also instructed to conduct a fresh survey of wet land and explore the possibility of promoting fish farming in those areas.
The Minister was presiding over a review meeting of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Department officials held here today. Additional Chief Secretary Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Department, Sh. Raja Shekhar Vundru, along with other senior officers, was also present.
During the meeting, Sh. Shyam Singh Rana reviewed ongoing work related to soil conservation and fertilizer availability in view of the upcoming sowing season. He directed the department to take proactive steps to ensure adequate fertilizer supply to farmers.
Emphasizing the importance of seed quality, the Minister held detailed discussions on seed subsidy schemes and instructed that only high-quality seeds be provided to farmers. He asserted that no shortage of funds would be allowed to hinder the implementation of farmer-centric schemes, and that every eligible farmer should benefit from the initiatives of the Agriculture Department.
Addressing the issue of wet land in the state, the Minister said that a target has been set to reclaim one lakh hectares of such land this year. He urged officials to exceed this target and make Charkhi Dadri, Sirsa, and Fatehabad districts completely wet-free, while simultaneously intensifying efforts in other districts.
The Minister also instructed officials to encourage Panchayats to adopt fish farming by developing model ponds on wet Panchayat land. If successful, this model can be replicated for individual farmers whose land remains uncultivated due to wet land. In areas where fish farming is not feasible and water stagnation is a persistent issue, he suggested the plantation of Safeda to help restore groundwater balance.
The Minister said that both Prime Minister Sh. Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Sh. Nayab Singh Saini envision a transformation of wet land areas into productive assets. Promoting alternative livelihoods like fish farming is part of that vision and will play a vital role in enhancing farmers’ income.
Reviewing preparations for the upcoming paddy and cotton sowing season, the Minister assured that there would be no shortage of fertilizers and directed officials to maintain advance stocks and distribution plans.
In addition, he reviewed initiatives such as the Soil Health Card program, stubble management, and farmer training schemes, reiterating that agriculture remains the backbone of both the national and state economy, and therefore, safeguarding the interests of farmers is a top priority for the government.
