By IANS,
Chandigarh : Haryana, where wheat production was highest in the country during 2010-11, has been selected for the best performing state award for wheat for the year, Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda announced here Monday.
Hooda said the award would be presented by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh July 16 on the occasion of the foundation day of the Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR) in New Delhi.
Hooda said the award, which carries Rs.1 crore in cash, would be utilized for strengthening infrastructure in the state.
“It is for the first time that the state has bagged such an award,” he pointed out.
Wheat is cultivated in an area of nearly 25 lakh hectares in the state.
“During the year 2008-09, wheat production reached 113.60 lakh tonnes with productivity of 4,614 kg per hectare, which was the highest in the country. Resultantly, the state could contribute 69.2 lakh tonnes of wheat to the central foodgrain pool which is second highest after Punjab,” Hooda said.
He added that the state’s efforts in extending technological inputs and services to farmers had resulted in Haryana achieving its highest ever productivity and production of wheat during 2010-11.