Support for farmers through government subsidies
The Haryana government has announced the expansion of the Bhavantar Bharpai Yojana (BBY) to include potato farmers. The move is aimed at stabilising farmers’ income and reducing price pressure on farmers amid market fluctuations.
A government spokesperson said that Rs 46.34 crore (around US$ 5.6 million) has already been disbursed under the scheme for the financial year 2023-24. This will support local farmers and strengthen the production resilience of the potato sector in the region.
How does Bhavantar Bharpai Yojana work?
The BBY scheme has been designed as a mechanism to protect farmers from market price fluctuations. Under the scheme, the government compensates the difference between the market price and a pre-determined fair price, helping farmers avoid losses in case the market value of the crop falls.
The scheme had previously covered crops like mustard, onion, tomato and potato in other states, but now potato farmers in Haryana have been officially included.
What does this mean for farmers?
- Financial protection against volatile market prices
- Increased confidence in potato investments
- Strengthening the sector and encouraging potato cultivation in the region
The move is part of the government’s broader strategy to support agriculture in India by providing farmers with more predictable income and reducing their vulnerability to market fluctuations.
Do you think a similar scheme could help stabilize potato markets in other countries too? Let us know what you think!