On Tuesday, the government took an important step in the direction of promoting horticulture. In this episode, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami launched the Uttarakhand Integrated Horticulture Development Project with a cost of Rs 526 crore funded by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
Chief Minister Dhami said that various externally aided agencies are showing special interest in sanctioning projects in various sectors in the state, which is a matter of pride for us. This is the first scheme in the field of horticulture, which will be implemented in four districts Tehri, Uttarkashi, Nainital and Pithoragarh with the cooperation of farmer producer organizations.
Kiwi fruit production is mainly included in the plan as a game changer crop, as well as high-intensity horticulture of apples. Along with this, the supply chain will be strengthened.
The government took several important steps in the direction of horticulture:
Chief Minister Dhami, who was virtually connected from Delhi at the launching ceremony of the project held at Mukhya Sevak Sadan on Tuesday evening, said that the state’s geographical conditions and climate are favorable for the production of agricultural and horticultural crops. In view of this, the government has taken many important steps in the direction of horticulture.
Silence is also being promoted to increase the income of the farmers. The National Bee Board has approved proposals worth 4.68 crore under the National Beekeeping and Honey Mission in the state. Under this, honey collection and processing unit, testing lab will be set up to ensure quality at Jeolikot in Nainital. To take honey to the country and abroad, the focus has been on its branding and marketing.
The Chief Minister said that for the purpose of attracting investment in the mega food park set up in the state, entrepreneurs are being given exemption in stamp duty, bank interest, mandi fee, electricity bill and GST on the purchase of fruits and vegetables from the mandi.
The weather-based crop insurance scheme also covers damage to apples due to hailstorm. The proposal of Climate Smart Micro Irrigation System costing Rs 10 crore has been approved by NABARD. Tissue culture lab has been set up at Bhatwadi in Uttarkashi to ensure availability of high quality apple seedlings to the farmers.
Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Ganesh Joshi said that efforts are being made to make Uttarakhand a leader in the field of horticulture in the country by the year 2025. He informed that an important scheme is also being launched in the field of Roof Gardening on December 25, in which Dehradun district has been included under the pilot project.
Officers have been instructed to spend more time in the field to solve the problems of the farmers. Cabinet Minister Premchand Aggarwal said that schemes related to horticulture would prove helpful in preventing migration in the state. Secretary Dr. BVRC Purushottam, Director Horticulture Dr. HS Baweja, Director Agriculture Gourishankar, Director Reshak AK Yadav, representatives of JICA Jun Watanabe, Anurag Sinha, Maria Kato etc were present in the programme.
