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The implementation of the scheme will be completed in two phases. In the first phase, the applications and documents of the farmers will be verified. After verification, the department will issue approval letters to the beneficiary farmers for seed purchase.
Sitamarhi: There is a relief news for the sugarcane farmers of Sitamarhi district of Bihar. Under the Chief Minister Sugarcane Development Scheme, the Agriculture Department will provide certified sugarcane seeds to the farmers at the government level. Under this scheme, farmers will be given subsidy on the purchase of sugarcane seeds, which will reduce the cost of farming and boost production. After the reopening of the Riga Sugar Mill which was closed in the district since last year, farmers are once again looking excited about sugarcane cultivation. Due to the mill being closed, farmers had given up sugarcane cultivation for many years, but now the circumstances are changing.
Grant will be given under Chief Minister Sugarcane Development Scheme
According to the Agriculture Department, sugarcane farmers are applying online under the Chief Minister Sugarcane Development Scheme. Under the scheme, on the purchase of certified sugarcane seeds, a grant of Rs 210 per quintal will be given to general category farmers and Rs 240 per quintal to Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (SC-ST) category farmers. The grant amount will be sent directly to the farmers’ bank accounts after the verification process is completed. The objective of the department is that genuine farmers can get the benefits of the scheme through a transparent process.
The process will be completed in two phases
The implementation of the scheme will be completed in two phases. In the first phase, the applications and documents of the farmers will be verified. After verification, the department will issue approval letters to the beneficiary farmers for seed purchase. According to the instructions, it will be mandatory for the farmer to purchase certified sugarcane seeds and plant them in his field within seven days of receiving the approval letter. Along with this, the cash memo of seed purchase will have to be uploaded on the online portal, so that the next process can be started.
Physical verification of farmers’ fields will be done
In the second phase, physical verification of farmers’ fields will be done by the Agriculture Department. In this it will be seen whether the farmer has actually sown the sugarcane seeds or not. Only after successful physical verification, the grant amount will be sent to the bank account of the beneficiary farmer. General category farmers will be paid Rs 210 per quintal and SC-ST category farmers will be paid Rs 240 per quintal. The department has clarified that it will be mandatory to follow all the rules, otherwise the grant can be stopped.
Training will also be given for sugarcane cultivation
At present sugarcane is being cultivated in about 25 thousand hectares of land in the district, which is likely to increase further this year. With the restarting of Riga Sugar Mill, new enthusiasm is being seen among the farmers regarding sugarcane production. The Agriculture Department will also provide training to selected farmers for sugarcane cultivation under new technology, so that both production and quality can be improved. Under the scheme, farmers will be able to select the variety of sugarcane seeds themselves. For more information, farmers can contact the office of Assistant Director of Sugarcane Development and Sugarcane Officer.
