SCHEME FOR GIVING REWARDS TO THE STATES  HAVING OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE DURING RABI  SEASON 2004-05

1.         PURPOSE   

The State Governments set targets of food and oilseed production and areas coverage Season every year.  During the current year  (2004-05),  due to erratic monsoon there has been a certain degree of setback to Kharif production.  However, subsequent late rains and congenial environment conditions prompted the States to enhance the rabi  sown  area as well as set rabi  targets in such a way that the deficiencies  of  Kharif  could be met  through higher rabi production.   Hon’ble  A.M. has  thus, announced  that the States  would  be given  incentive  in the form of rewards  if these  targets are achieved.   An intensified “Rabi Campaign  2004-05” has been launched   to culminate into successful production.   The States  showing outstanding performance in increasing areas coverage and production of foodgrain and oilseeds during Rabi 2004-05 will be rewarded as an incentive for their hard work. 

2.         NUMBER OF AWARDS 

            There will be total five Awards  to be given to one State within the following Groups  of States

Group –I        :           Punjab,  Haryana, Uttar Pradesh

Group-II         :           Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Chattisgarh

Group-III        :           Karnataka,  Andhra Pradesh,  Kerala &  Tamil Nadu

Group-IV       :           Bihar, Orissa, Jharkhand,  West  Bengal & Assam

Group-V        :           All hilly States including Nagaland, Tripura, Arunachal

                                    Pradesh, Manipur,  Mizoram, Sikkim,  Uttaranchal,

                                   Himachal Pradesh  & Jammu Kashmir and Goa.

3.         CRITERIA :  

The criterion  for  judging the outstanding performance  by a State will be as below  :

a)         Achievement of  production targets (foodgrains and oilseeds) set by States,  and  as communicated  to the  Department of Agriculture & Cooperation.

b)         Increase in the productivity over last three  years  average.

c)         Increase in the area  coverage under Rabi crops over last three years average.

(d)               Use of integrated pest management, and integrated nutrient management – area under such coverage.

(e)               Weightage to states that show maximum coverage under improved agricultural techniques/ technology such as zero tillage, raised bed plantation, inter-cropping etc.

4.         SELECTION OF THE STATE FOR AWARD

            There will be a  Committee under the Chairmanship of Secretary (A&C)  to decide  on the selection of  a  State  for  Award  based on the criterion mention ed above.  The Committee will consist of  Additional Secretary (Extn.), Additional Secretary (Crops), Agriculture Commissioner, ESA and DDG (Crops), ICAR  with JS(Extn.) as Member - Secretary.

5.         NATURE OF AWARDS

            Best  performing State  in each group  would be rewarded as below :-

i)          A Silver Plaque to the  State by the Union Agriculture Minister at a formal function.

ii)         As Incentive, grant of Rs. One crore to the winning state for purchase of equipment to enhance efficiency and grant of honorarium to deserving officers/teams/farmers that have helped to achieve the prescribed targets.

iii)        The State Government will evolve and approve its criteria for utilizing of this incentive money through a committee headed by the Chief Secretary/Agriculture Production Commissioner and constituted by the State Government.

Other non-cash incentives for Best performing Individual Officials/Offices could also include the following :-

a)                Letter of appreciation acknowledging individual  contribution from an appropriate  level;

b)                Entry in Annual Confidential Reports mentioning contribution towards such achievement;

c)                 Sponsoring officials for training/study visit within and outside the country.

d)                Providing I.T. equipment and other office equipments such as photocopies, fax machines, etc. to enhance efficiency;

e)                Purchase of conveyances like car, jeep or motorcycle after following the state Government procedure laid down for purchase of such equipment/vehicles.