Which Indian state launched a Contract Farming Scheme to give additional impetus to agriculture and secure farm incomes?

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: Haryana

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
This question deals with agricultural policy in India. Contract farming involves agreements between farmers and buyers such as processing companies, exporters or retailers, in which production and marketing conditions are fixed in advance. Some Indian states have introduced formal schemes or legal frameworks to promote contract farming, aiming to stabilise farmer incomes and encourage private investment. The question asks which state launched such a Contract Farming Scheme to give additional momentum to agriculture.



Given Data / Assumptions:

  • The focus is on a state level Contract Farming Scheme in India.
  • Options are Jammu and Kashmir, Orissa, West Bengal and Haryana.
  • We assume that the question refers to a widely reported policy move highlighted in exam oriented current affairs.
  • The aim of the scheme is to give impetus to agriculture and reduce market risk for farmers.


Concept / Approach:
Contract farming allows farmers to enter into forward agreements with institutional buyers, which can ensure assured prices, technical support and input supply. Several states have considered or passed legislation to encourage such arrangements. Haryana, being a major agricultural state with large areas under wheat, rice and other crops, announced a formal Contract Farming Scheme to attract food processing and agribusiness firms and to provide better market access for farmers. The approach is to recall that Haryana is frequently mentioned in news summaries as the state that launched such a scheme.



Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall which Indian states are often in the news for new agriculture reforms and marketing changes.Step 2: Remember that Haryana introduced a Contract Farming Scheme to formalise agreements between farmers and corporate buyers.Step 3: Examine the list of options Jammu and Kashmir, Orissa, West Bengal and Haryana.Step 4: Note that while other states have their own agricultural policies, Haryana is specifically tied to the contract farming initiative in many general knowledge notes.Step 5: Select Haryana as the correct answer.


Verification / Alternative check:
As an alternative check, one can recall exam oriented current affairs compilations that mention a Contract Farming Act or Scheme rolled out by Haryana to encourage private sector investment and long term produce purchase agreements. This policy was highlighted as part of a broader push toward market reforms in agriculture. None of the other states in the options were as prominently associated with launching a special Contract Farming Scheme in that time frame.



Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Jammu and Kashmir has unique land and legal conditions but is not commonly cited in relation to a state level contract farming reform scheme in general awareness notes. Orissa and West Bengal are important agricultural states but were not the primary ones associated with a flagship Contract Farming Scheme in the context described. They may have pilot projects or different programmes, but for this specific exam style question, Haryana is the recognised correct choice.



Common Pitfalls:
Candidates may sometimes confuse various agricultural initiatives across states, leading them to guess randomly. Some may think of West Bengal because of its size or Orissa because of specific crop diversification programmes. The key is to connect the phrase Contract Farming Scheme in general knowledge materials with Haryana, which has been singled out for formalising contract farming arrangements. This association helps to avoid confusion among similar sounding policy names.



Final Answer:
Haryana is the Indian state that launched a Contract Farming Scheme to give additional impetus to agriculture and secure farm incomes.

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