The Gujarat government has hiked financial assistance under its farm wire fencing scheme from ₹200 per running metre to ₹300 per running metre and halved the minimum land cluster requirement for eligibility, in a move designed to help more farmers — particularly smallholders — shield their crops from stray cattle and wild animals ahead of the monsoon season. The decisions were cleared at a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Wednesday, 27 May in Gandhinagar.

Key Changes to the Scheme

Under the revised terms, farmers will receive assistance of ₹300 per running metre or 50 per cent of actual expenditure incurred, whichever is lower. State Agriculture Minister Jitu Vaghani, who also serves as government spokesperson, attributed the upward revision to rising market prices of materials and labour costs. 'At present, due to the increase in market prices of materials and labour costs, the average expenditure has increased. Therefore, to reduce the financial burden on farmers, the government has decided to increase the assistance,' Vaghani said.

Eligibility Norms Relaxed for Small Farmers

The government has also eased the cluster requirement that previously excluded many smaller landholders. Earlier, farmers across all categories were required to form a cluster of at least two hectares to qualify for assistance. That threshold has now been reduced to one hectare. Vaghani explained that smaller farmers were frequently left out because the two-hectare cluster could not be maintained if even a single farmer in the group withdrew. 'Keeping the interests of such farmers in mind, this limit has now been reduced to just one hectare,' he said.

Funding and Application Process

The state government has earmarked ₹240 crore for the scheme this year. According to Vaghani, approximately 1 lakh applications have already been received through the i-Khedut Portal. All pending applications will be approved in phases before the monsoon, in accordance with applicable rules, so that farmers can complete fencing work before the busy cropping season begins. Notably, the application portal was previously opened only once a year; the government has now indicated it will reopen the portal if demand warrants it. Vaghani also confirmed that additional funds beyond the ₹240 crore allocation will be arranged if required.

Why This Matters for Gujarat Farmers

Crop damage caused by stray cattle and wildlife is a persistent problem across Gujarat, particularly in districts bordering forest zones. The pre-monsoon timing of the announcement is deliberate — fencing must be in place before the kharif sowing season begins, after which farmers are fully occupied with agricultural activities. This is the second revision to the barbed wire fencing scheme in recent years, reflecting sustained pressure on farm input costs. The combination of a higher subsidy rate and a lower cluster threshold could significantly widen the scheme's reach among marginal and small farmers who were structurally excluded under the old norms.