Farmers to get 70% subsidy on fencing to protect crops

To help farmers safeguard their crops from wild animals and livestock, the Agriculture Department of Chamba district is offering a 70 per cent subsidy on barbed and mesh wire fencing under the Chief Minister’s Crop Protection Scheme. Dr Kuldeep Dhiman, Deputy Director of Agriculture, Chamba, said in a statement that the subsidy applied specifically to barbed and mesh wire fencing this year.

He said farmers interested in availing themselves of this subsidy could submit their applications via the scheme’s portal at www.agridbt.hp.gov.in through any Lok Mitra Kendra (public facilitation centre). Dr Dhiman also said that farmers who had previously applied for solar fencing on the portal but did not get approval could reapply for barbed or mesh wire fencing.

To apply for the subsidy, the farmers would need to provide their Aadhaar card, land records, a copy of the front page of their bank passbook, a caste certificate, and an estimate of the fencing cost. The approval would be granted on a first-come, first-served basis, he said.

According to government estimates, the cost of installing a 6-foot-high barbed wire fencing with iron angles is approximately Rs 416 per meter, of which farmers will receive a subsidy of Rs 291 per meter if they install the fencing themselves with the department’s approval. For mesh wire fencing, which costs Rs 640 per meter with iron angles, the government will provide a subsidy of Rs 448 per meter.

Dr Dhiman advised all farmers interested in fencing to measure the length required and obtain a cost estimate from the nearest Agriculture Department office before submitting their applications on the portal.