Centre has asked the drought affected states to review the problem on weekly basis and prepare an action plan to tide over the challenges. Addressing a press Conference in New Delhi on the completion of two years of NDA government, Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh said, for the first time Prime Minister discussed with the Chief Minister of all drought affected states to provide immediate relief to the farmers. <br/><br/>He said, the first priority of the government was to take up effective initiatives to fight challenges prevailing in agriculture sector. Mr Singh said, the government has chalked out a plan to reduce the input cost in the agriculture sector and to provide farmers better return for their produce. He said, the concept of one nation one mandi has been taken ahead. Under National Agriculture Market 21 mandis of 8 states are doing business for 24 products. <br/><br/>He said, the proposals of 365 mandis from 12 states to participate in e-mandi have been sanctioned. Mr Singh said, the dairy and fisheries sectors have made greater strides in terms of growth and development. He said, the earning of dairy farmers registered an average growth of 4.71 per cent during the last two years. Agriculture Minister said, 500 per cent growth was registered in number of weather and crop advisories sent to farmers.<br/><br/>The Minister said, to provide cheaper and concessional loans to farmers, target for agricultural credit has been raised to Rs 9 lakh crore. He said, to promote agriculture, allocation to this sector has been increased from 15,809 crore to around Rs 36,000 crore in this year's budget. Mr Singh said the government has made a provision for farmer credit cards as well as relaxation in payment of interests at the time of calamities.

Centre has asked the drought affected states to review the problem on weekly basis and prepare an action plan to tide over the challenges. Addressing a press Conference in New Delhi on the completion of two years of NDA government, Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh said, for the first time Prime Minister discussed with the Chief Minister of all drought affected states to provide immediate relief to the farmers. <br/><br/>He said, the first priority of the government was to take up effective initiatives to fight challenges prevailing in agriculture sector. Mr Singh said, the government has chalked out a plan to reduce the input cost in the agriculture sector and to provide farmers better return for their produce. He said, the concept of one nation one mandi has been taken ahead. Under National Agriculture Market 21 mandis of 8 states are doing business for 24 products. <br/><br/>He said, the proposals of 365 mandis from 12 states to participate in e-mandi have been sanctioned. Mr Singh said, the dairy and fisheries sectors have made greater strides in terms of growth and development. He said, the earning of dairy farmers registered an average growth of 4.71 per cent during the last two years. Agriculture Minister said, 500 per cent growth was registered in number of weather and crop advisories sent to farmers.<br/><br/>The Minister said, to provide cheaper and concessional loans to farmers, target for agricultural credit has been raised to Rs 9 lakh crore. He said, to promote agriculture, allocation to this sector has been increased from 15,809 crore to around Rs 36,000 crore in this year's budget. Mr Singh said the government has made a provision for farmer credit cards as well as relaxation in payment of interests at the time of calamities.