CM Saini Visits Hisar Agriculture Fair, Felicitates 45 Progressive Farmers
Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini inaugurates the Rabi Agriculture Fair in Hisar, emphasizing water conservation and modern technology for farmers.
In a significant push toward modernizing the state's farming landscape, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini inaugurated the two-day Agriculture Fair (Rabi) at Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University in Hisar on Thursday. During the event, the Chief Minister interacted with agricultural scientists, experts, and farmers, while also honoring 45 progressive farmers for their outstanding contributions to the sector.
While touring the extensive agriculture exhibition, the Chief Minister examined the latest advancements in farming, including improved seed varieties, cutting-edge farm machinery, and innovative agricultural products showcased at various stalls.
Protecting the 'White Gold' of Haryana
Addressing the gathering, CM Saini highlighted the vital importance of cotton, affectionately referred to as "white gold" in the state. He noted that the livelihoods of lakhs of farming families in regions such as Sirsa, Fatehabad, and Hisar are deeply intertwined with cotton production.
The Chief Minister pointed out that labor shortages pose a growing threat to traditional farming. To combat this, the state is actively promoting mechanization. He specifically highlighted a cotton-picking machine on display that can process an entire acre in just one hour—effectively halving the time required for manual labor. "The Haryana Government is promoting machines for cotton picking and sugarcane peeling to ensure that cultivation areas do not shrink due to labor shortages," he stated.
He also praised the work of the agricultural university and the Cotton Research Centre in Sirsa for developing superior seed varieties and scientific management techniques. However, he warned that changing weather patterns and evolving pest threats necessitate even faster development of climate-resilient technologies.
A Roadmap for Water Conservation and Diversification
With the global water crisis looming, the Chief Minister issued a clarion call for sustainable agricultural practices. He emphasized that the survival of rural life depends heavily on the judicious use of water resources.
Key Strategies for Future Security:
- Crop Diversification: Moving away from the traditional wheat-paddy cycle, which is water-intensive, towards pulses and oilseeds.
- Soil Health: Preventing the degradation caused by continuous monoculture.
- Resource Efficiency: Achieving higher production yields with significantly less water and fewer natural resources.
The Chief Minister underscored the importance of the Mera Pani-Meri Virasat scheme, which incentivizes farmers to switch to alternative crops or leave fields fallow to recharge groundwater. Under this initiative, the government provides financial assistance of Rs 8,000 per acre. To date, approximately Rs 166.34 crore has been distributed to 1.59 lakh farmers for adopting alternative crops in place of paddy.
Bridging the Gap Between Science and Soil
CM Saini described the Agriculture Fair as an essential bridge for knowledge exchange. The platform allows farmers to gain direct access to research on rabi seeds, modern crop management, and the latest machinery.
He also highlighted recent grassroots efforts to educate the farming community, noting that 257 Cotton Farmers’ Field Schools have been organized. These programs, along with 167 farmer fairs, have helped sensitize over 7,000 farmers on identifying harmful pests and implementing low-cost production methods to boost overall profitability.