Gandhinagar, May 28: The Gujarat government has increased financial assistance for farm fencing ahead of the monsoon season. This move aims to help more farmers protect their crops from stray animals and wild wildlife. The decision was made during a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel.
Agriculture Minister and government spokesperson Jitu Vaghani announced that the subsidy for barbed wire fencing has been raised from ₹200 to ₹300 per meter. Farmers will now receive ₹300 per meter or 50% of the actual cost, whichever is lower.
Vaghani explained that the increase in the subsidy is due to rising market prices for materials and labor, which have raised average costs. To ease the financial burden on farmers, the government decided to enhance the assistance amount.
Additionally, the government has relaxed eligibility criteria for the scheme. Previously, farmers were required to form a group of at least two hectares to qualify for assistance. This minimum requirement has now been reduced to one hectare.
Vaghani noted that small farmers often missed out on benefits because maintaining a two-hectare group was challenging if any member disagreed. To address this issue, the threshold has been lowered to just one hectare.
According to the minister, approximately 100,000 applications have been received through the I-Khedut portal under this scheme. All applications will be approved in a phased manner before the monsoon, ensuring farmers can complete fencing before fully engaging in agricultural activities.
The state government has allocated ₹240 crore for this initiative and will arrange additional funds if necessary. Vaghani also mentioned that the application portal, which previously opened only once a year, may be reopened this year to benefit more farmers.
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