Subsidy to be provided to farmes for transportation of paddy from villages to paddy procurement centres
Guwahati, Oct 7: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday announced that the state government will issue 10 lakh soil health cards to farmers this year, as part of an effort to improve agricultural productivity and soil management. Speaking at a function held at Srimanta Sankardeva Kalakshetra in Guwahati, Sarma explained that the initiative aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 2015 soil health programme, which aims to assess soil fertility and promote sustainable farming practices.
“So far, 4 lakh cards have already been prepared,” the Chief Minister said.
Sarma revealed that the state government will offer a subsidy to farmers for transporting their paddy from villages to procurement centres, further supporting agricultural operations in the state. This initiative is expected to ease logistical challenges for farmers and enhance the overall efficiency of paddy procurement in the state.
“We have set a target of issuing 10 lakh Soil Health Cards (SHCs), with 4 lakh already prepared. These cards will help assess the suitability and fertility of agricultural soil, improving farm management,” Sarma said.
“To support this effort, the number of soil testing laboratories in the state has increased from 5 to 22,” Sarma said and emphasized the state’s achievements in agricultural mechanization, which have been acknowledged by the Central government.
“As part of these efforts, 816 village-level farm machinery banks are being set up, with a 95% subsidy provided by the Centre. 96 agriculture knowledge banks have been established, and under the APART scheme, 93 offices for Agricultural Development Officers are being inaugurated across the state to further assist farmers in improving agricultural practices,” he said.
Sarma announced that the government’s decision to procure paddy at the Minimum Support Price (MSP) has generated optimism among farmers. He acknowledged that the distance between villages and procurement centers often imposes additional financial burdens on farmers due to transportation costs. To address this, Sarma declared that the government will provide subsidies to farmers for every quintal of paddy transported to the procurement centres, thereby reducing their transportation expenses.
The Chief Minister also highlighted the increasing demand for maize and wheat due to the ethanol industry and mentioned that the state government, along with Oil India Limited and Reliance, is working on bio-fuel production in Assam. This initiative aligns with the state’s efforts towards sustainable energy production.
Sarma expressed gratitude to Agriculture Minister Atul Bora for revitalizing the agricultural sector, which contributes to the state’s goal of Atmanirbhar Asom (Self-reliant Assam). He also thanked the farmers for their pivotal role in achieving this vision.
The event was attended by Agriculture Minister Atul Bora, Chief Secretary Ravi Kota, Assam Seed Corporation chairman Prabin Hazarika, and Principal Secretary Revenue GD Tripathy, among others.
