Una, January 23- The Himachal government is constantly striving to strengthen the agriculture sector and increase the income of farmers. The Chief Minister's Agriculture Promotion Scheme is proving to be very important in this. Through this, the government is motivating and encouraging farmers for advanced farming. The main objective of this scheme is to increase agricultural productivity in the state and to provide high quality seeds, plant protection material and fertilizers to the farmers.
Deputy Director Agriculture Kulbhushan Dhiman said that Chief Minister Mr. Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu has a special emphasis on making farmers self-reliant. As per his instructions, under the Chief Minister Agriculture Promotion Scheme, subsidy is being given on seeds and fertilizers in Una district at the rates fixed by the department. 
In this episode, budget provision is made for the government farm and soil training laboratory of Pekhubela. He told that in the year 2024-25, a provision of Rs 3.08 crore was made under the scheme, out of which 45 thousand 965 farmers have been benefited by spending Rs 3.02 crore. He said that till now farmers have been benefited by spending Rs 2.5 crore for seed distribution and Rs 40 lakh in fertilizer distribution, Rs 5.07 lakh in government farm Pekhubela and Rs 7.20 lakh for soil training laboratory in the district.

Main components of Chief Minister's Agriculture Promotion Scheme
There are four main components of Mukhyamantri Krishi Samvardhan Yojana which include cluster based vegetable production scheme, input based subsidy scheme (seeds, plant protection material and fertilizers), strengthening of seed multiplication chain and strengthening of laboratories.

Cluster Based Vegetable Production Scheme
Cluster Based Vegetable Production Scheme To exploit the full potential of vegetable production in the state, the Agriculture Department has proposed the cluster method to include the entire state in vegetable production in a phased manner. This will promote the production of vegetable crops in the state and along with increasing the income of farmers, young and women farmers will get employment opportunities through agribusiness and small-scale industries.

Input Based Subsidy Scheme (Seeds, Plant Protection Materials and Fertilizers)
Seed is an important basic input which ensures production and productivity of crops. To increase the productivity of crops, it has been proposed to encourage farmers of all categories by giving 50 percent subsidy on seeds of cereals, pulses, oilseeds and fodder crops and 25 percent subsidy on seeds of potato, ginger and turmeric. Apart from this, to encourage farmers to use fertilizers, the government has formulated a policy to provide subsidy on mixed fertilizers. 
The state government has decided to promote non-chemical methods for crop protection under state sponsored schemes. It has been proposed to provide 50 percent incentive to farmers of all categories on insect traps, lures, biocontrollers, biological pesticides and botanical controllers etc. Seed raising is an important agricultural activity and is an integral part of the seed chain, which will help the state to develop as a self-sufficient state for seeds and will reduce dependence on purchases from neighboring states.

Empowerment of laboratories
The Agriculture Department is running 11 soil testing, 3 fertilizer testing, 3 seed testing, 2 bio control, one state pesticide testing and one bio fertilizer production and quality control laboratory in the state. For soil health assessment, the Agriculture Department is providing soil testing to farmers free of cost. Apart from this, quality control laboratories such as seeds, fertilizers and pesticides etc. are being run in the state to provide quality inputs to farmers. To promote non-chemical methods of pest control, 2 bio control laboratories are working in Kangra and Mandi districts. These laboratories organize free demonstrations of use of bio agents, bio pesticides, traps and lures etc. in the farmers' fields.

Deputy Commissioner Jatin Lal says that the prosperity of the district and the state lies in the prosperity of the farmers. As per the instructions of the state government, high quality seeds, fertilizers and agricultural equipment are being made available to the farmers in Una district through the Agriculture Department on government subsidy. We are working diligently for the service and convenience of the farmers.