Team Herald
PANJIM: The State government on Thursday announced a new scheme ‘Promotion of Modified Sustainable Sugarcane Initiative’ (MSSI) in a bid to increase sugarcane nurseries in polytrays using single bud and improve productivity and the area under sugarcane crop. The scheme is also expected to make the crop more remunerative for farmers and ensure an adequate supply of cane to the only sugar factory in co-operative sector.
The notification states that farmers claiming assistance under the scheme should be registered sugarcane growers with Sanjivani Sahakari Sakhar Kharkhana (SSSK) Ltd, and should desire bringing new areas under the crop. It also states that the land under cultivation should be in the farmers name or held on lease/contract or under any other classification as shown on valid Krishi Card.
Before submission of a claim at the Zonal Agricultural Office, the farmer should obtain a certificate from the Sanjivani Sahakari Sakhar Kharkhana Ltd, stating the authenticity of the new area covered under the crop, techniques followed by the farmer under MSSI with regards to use of single bud seedlings, maintenance of optimum spacing, efficient use of water etc.
“Farmers will get assistance of Rs 10,000 per hectare towards the cost of land preparation and planting of single bud seedlings. The assistance will be 50 percent of the cost of expenditure on labour charges or Rs 10,000 per ha whichever is less. The assistance will be provided to farmers on pro-rata-basis with minimum area of 2000 m2 per farmer,” the notification states.
