Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal has said that the government would soon introduce a scheme to boost agriculture under which progressive farmers would be given prizes. Speaking at a kisan mela organised jointly by Dr .Y.S Pramar University, Solan, and the Agriculture and Horticulture Departments during the three-day Holi festival here today he said cash prizes of Rs. 50,000 each would be given to six progressive farmers at the state level, Rs 25,000 each to 28 farmers at the district level and Rs 10000 each to 195 farmers at the block level. The Chief Minister said the government would take steps to create more employment Opportunities. More avenues for self-employment would be generated for the rural youth to make them self-reliant would be created. Every farmer would be issued a soil health card and the government would share 50 per cent premium of the crop insurance scheme. Dhumal said a primate park would be developed on the Sujanpur-Nadaun road to check the monkey menace. The Chief Minister said scientific research should be brought to the fields for practical implementation and the government had decided to carry farm soil tests for 100,000 farmers on the basis of which appropriate crops would be suggested through soil health card scheme. He emphasized that field officers should spend most of their time among farmers to resolve their problems. Dhumal said diversified farming was the need of the hour and added that varied climatic conditions of the state were conducive to the cultivation of all types of crops like flowers, herbs and medicinal plants. He assured that the government would create infrastructure for agro produce marketing at the district and sub-divisional levels. He said animal husbandry had been accorded priority and the milk producers had been given an enhanced procurement milk rate of Rs 2 per kg but consumers would continue to get milk at the old rate since the government would provide Rs 9 crore to Milkfed to maintain the old price. The Chief Minister also gave away prizes to farmers and inaugurated an exhibition held on the occasion of the Holi festival.