Jharkhand govt to help farmers increase vegetable production

Jharkhand chief minister Arjun Munda today said steps would be taken to help farmers increase vegetable production but ruled out any subsidy for the consumers.

"It is the Centre which has to control prices, not only of onions but also on other items ... On our part we will try to increase production of vegetables by helping farmers with an aim to keep control on prices in the coming years," Munda said at a news conference.

He was replying to a query on whether his government would give any subsidy to consumers buying onions in view of the sky rocketing prices of the bulb.

"We have also urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for help in completing the Swranareka multi-purpose project pending for 30 years. The project on completion will help irrigate 1.5 lakh hectares ... Farmers in Orissa will also get benefit from the project," Munda said.

Efforts were also on to cover maximum farmers under the micro credit plan and help them solve their agri-related problems, he said adding the state was in touch with RBI.

The government had also decided to launch a 'Save Water' campaign in the wake of water scarcity due to scanty rainfall for the last two years in the state.