There won't be reduction in Agri. production: Minister

Agriculture Minister Shri Radha Mohan Singh today assured that despite 14% deficit monsoon, there won't be any reduction in Agricultural production. The Minister said, they are setting a target of 133 million tonnes of food grain production for this Rabi season. He was speaking at the inaugural function of National Conference on Rabi Campaign on agriculture at National Agriculture Science Center, in New Delhi.

He said, in order to give boost to organic production in country, an input subsidy of 20,000 rupees per acre will be provided to farmers. The Minister said, 2015 has been declared as the International Year of Soils by the Sixty-eighth session of the United Nations General Assembly and December 5th will be celebrated as World Soil Day, by that date. He said, 14 crore farmers need to be sensitized about soil health in the country. He also stressed the need to implement Soil health card scheme for farmers.

However, majority of States participating in the conference expressed that maintaining soil heath card with 190 rupees is not viable, and requested the center to increase the amount according to the market prices.