CHANDIGARH, OCTOBER 12:
Punjab Government led by Chief Minister Mr. Charanjit Singh Channi on Sunday approved Wheat Seed Subsidy Policy-2021-22 of the Agriculture Department to provide certified wheat seed at 50 percent subsidy to farmers limited to Rs. 2,000/- per farmer in the Rabi season.
A total of 2.00 lakh quintals of certified seed, with Rs 20.00 crore worth of subsidy, will directly benefit approximately one lakh farmers under the policy.
Agriculture Minister Mr. Randeep Singh Nabha directed the Department to give priority to providing subsidized seeds to small and marginal farmers. The subsidy should be given only to eligible farmers and the subsidy amount should be transferred directly to the accounts of beneficiary farmers OR in registered dealers Bank account on the option of Farmers., he said.
Mr. Nabha directed the officers/staff of the Agriculture Department to closely monitor the seeds being sold in their respective areas and also to ensure that only quality seeds reach the farmers. If any complaint is received in this regard or any malpractice detected, then the concerned officers/employees of the seed agencies, as well as the district and block level Agriculture officers would be considered to be directly responsible, warned the Agriculture Minister.
Farmers interested in availing of the subsidy can apply online at https://agrimachinerypb.com/ from October 10 to 18, 2021.
The Minister said the Agriculture Department has ensured all requisite arrangements to provide wheat seed at subsidized rates to the farmers. Subsidy equaling 50 percent of the total cost of seeds limited to a maximum of Rs.1,000 per quintal, will be directly transferred to the bank accounts of applicant farmers and subsidy on the wheat seed will be provided for a maximum of 5-acre area per farmer. Certified seed of PAU recommended varieties and certified within Punjab, will be distributed. The whole work will be through an online portal, where Farmers can apply for wheat seed and Seed producers may register themselves along with their dealers.
The Government/Cooperative/Private institutions would be able to sell the certified seeds of the rabi crop i.e. wheat during 2021-22 so that the farmers can procure seeds from the registered dealer/producer. The Scheduled Castes would be given preference in the distribution of the wheat seeds. Afterward, the marginal farmers (having land up to 2.5 acres) followed by small farmers having land between 2.5 acres and 5 acres, would be preferred. In case of the subsidy amount still being available, the applications of the big farmers would be considered. Only the varieties recommended by the PAU in Punjab and certified in Punjab only would be considered in the scheme.
The subsidy would be credited directly into the bank account of the farmers through DBT mode and if the concerned farmer gives in writing to transfer his due subsidy into the bank account of the producer then he can give his written consent to the dealer/producer and purchase his seed on the balance amount minus the subsidy which he can deduct.
Pertinently, during Rabi season 2021-22, wheat is expected to be cultivated over an area of about 35 lakh hectares in the state.
