Water to every field would become a reality in four years, Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Radha Mohan Singh said on Tuesday.
Addressing the regional editors conference in Chandigarh, the minister said improved irrigation facilities, with better fund and management, initiated by the Modi government, would help achieve this target.
Reiterating that the government is committed to ensuring two-fold increase in the income of farmers, Singh said besides increasing Minimum Support Price (MSP), other schemes have been taken up towards this end. In order to ensure better prices for the produce of farmers, government is working towards connecting all agriculture mandis with a national platform, he said, adding that by next year, all the 585 mandis would be connected to a common single market where farmers would be able to sell their produce for better price.
He said the direct benefits transfer to farmers, under various schemes, would also be made possible in the near future.
By 2017, about 14 crore farmers are expected get Soil Health Card. The minister said Rs 368.30 crore has been allocated for the Soil Health Card scheme compared to Rs 142 crore last year.
Singh said an allocation of Rs 5,500 crore in the 2016-17 budget has been made under Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana. The amount was Rs 3,185 crore in the previous budget. Besides, Rs 500 crore has also been allocated by finance minister and there is further demand for Rs 10,583 crore, he added.
