DW BUREAU / Chandigarh Concerned about the farmers and farming, the Haryana government for the last 8 years is giving a concrete shape to every scheme of the central government in the agriculture and allied sectors as compared to other states; under the leadership of Chief Minister, Sh. Manohar Lal. Also, centre of excellence is being opened with the help of the central government along with other countries, so that the tendency of the farmers increase towards other cash crops along with traditional farming. Under this, the farmers are informed about new techniques in the field of horticulture and fisheries and its adoption is further helping them increase their income. Taking a unique initiative, Chief Minister, Sh. Manohar Lal started a new scheme 'Mera Pani-Meri Virasat', so that along with land; the farmer should also give water as an inheritance to his children. Under this, financial assistance of Rs 7,000 per acre is given to the farmers cultivating other alternative crops in place of paddy. Apart from this, the benefits of the state government schemes are being given directly to the farmers through digital medium. Today, the farmers of the state are earning more profit at less cost by using new technology. There are many such examples in the state. Two progressive farmers of Haryana have received the Padma Shri award, including Kanwal Singh Chauhan of Sonipat district and Sultan Singh of Karnal district. The farmers have received the Padma Shri award for their excellence in sweet corn and baby corn along with fisheries by moving away from traditional farming. Taking another unique initiative, the Chief Minister has announced to start 'Kisan Shree Award' to progressive farmers who will inspire at least 10 more farmers to become progressive. Haryana is at the forefront of setting up centres of excellence in the country for increasing the quality and production in the horticulture sector. For this, 11 centres of excellence have been established. Many farmers have been associated to these centres of excellence and villages which have registered notable achievements in better agriculture, horticulture and animal husbandry are being identified through 'Village of Excellence'. The farmer producer organisations are directly linked to the market. The horticulture crops are insured for Rs 40,000 per acre under the Mukhyamantri Bagwani Bima Yojana. The area under horticulture in the state has increased than before and the farmers are inclining towards horticulture; instead of traditional farming. With the setting up of Maharana Pratap Horticulture University in Karnal, the farmers are directly getting the benefit of the new research being done and the techniques being developed by the university. Besides increasing the income of the farmers, the government is also providing subsidies to them for setting up packhouses to facilitate the washing, grading and packaging of agricultural products. The state government has set a target to establish 100 packhouses by the end of the current financial year to give more boost to the cultivation of horticulture crops. (editor@dailyworld.in)